THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


ht^l/ff^st^ 


a-fh^ 


LIFE 


THE  RIGHT  REVHRHND 
WILLIAM  PINKNEY,  D.  D.  LL  D, 

Klh'TH   BISHOI'  OF  MARYLAND. 


O.  /HUTTON,  1).  I). 


WASHINO'I^ON,   D.   C.  : 
C.IBSON    BROS..   I>RINTKRS  AND  BOOKBINDHRS. 

iSqo. 


THE    MEMORY    OF 

WILLIAM  W.  CORCORAN, 

DISXINCiUISHEl)    NO    LESS    BY    HIS    ABOUNDING    GENERAL    PHILANTHROPY 

THAN    BY    HIS 

APPRECIATIVE  AND  AFFECTIONATE  DEVOTION 

TO  THE 

PERSON    AND    CHAKACTEF. 

OF 

THE    SUBJECT 

OF 

THESE    PAGES, 

MAINLY    DUE    FOR    THEIR    PREPARATION    TO    HIS    SOLICITOUS 

INTEREST    A^  n    GENEROUS    ENCOURAGEMENT, 

THEY    ARE 

RESPECTFULLY    DEDICATED 

BY 

THE    AUTHOR. 


550223 


PREFACE 


The  Avork  of  writiug  this  Bio^ra[)liy  of  tlic  lato  Bisliop  Pinknby 
very  uuex})ectedly  devolved  u])()ii  nie.  Shortly  Jifter  the  Jiisliop's 
decease  a  number  of  the  clergy  and  laity  united  in  a  letter  to  the 
late  Rev.  Dr.  Meyer  Lewin,  requesting-  him  to  prepare  such  a 
Memoir.  He  consented  to  do  so,  l)ut  while  engaged  in  gathering 
materials  for  the  work,  he  was  suddenly  (tailed  to  his  rest  before 
he  had  written  a  line  or  made  a  single  note.  Thereui)on,  I  was 
solicited  by  the  family  and  personal  friends  of  the  Bisliop  to 
undertake  the  work.  Among  those  specially  urgent  that  I  shoidd 
do  so  w^as  the  late  Mr.  W.  W.  Corcoran,  whose  aifection  for  the 
person  and  devotion  to  the  memory  of  Bishop  Pinkney  w^ere  of 
the  most  ardent  character.  So  emphatic  were  Mr.  Corcoran's 
expressed  wishes  upon  the  subject,  and  so  generous  his  projxjsals 
with  regard  to  the  expenses  of  the  preparation  and  i)ublicati(m  of 
the  Life,  that  I  felt  constrained  to  sul)ordinate  all  other  (-(msidera- 
tions  and  assume  the  task.  Owing  to  the  pressure  of  other  cares 
and  duties,  which  I  could  not  wholly  neglect,  the  task  is  only 
now  accomplished. 

Mr.  Corcoran  did  not  live  to  see  the  work  completed  and  to 
carry  out  personally  his  intentions  respecting  its  publication  :  but 
in  pursuance  of  his  request  and  dii'ection  the  entire  expense  of 
the  preparation  and  j)ublication  of  this  work  has  been  borne  by 
his  executors. 

As  Bishop  Pinkney  kept  no  diary  except  of  strictly  ofl&cial  acts, 
used  no  care  in  filing  letters  received,  and  made  no  copies  of  his 
own  letters  except  in  some  rare  instances,  the  difficulty  of  placing 
in  consecutive  order  and  with  desired  completeness  the  records 
and  incidents  of  his  life  has  l)een  very  great.  Most  consistently 
with  his  nature,  it  seems  never  to  have  occurred  to  him  that  occa- 
sion would  arise  for  the  use  of  such  materials  in  a  Biograjihy  of 
himself.  I  have  endeavored  to  give  from  those  materials  that  I 
could  secure  a  fair  detail  of  the  incidents  and  exi)eriences  of  liis 
life. 

Ordained  to  the  sacred  ministry  at  an  earl}-  age,  and  not  called 
to  the  Episcopate  until  he  had  fully  reached  his  threescore  years, 
his  pastoral  life,  which,  under  the  Divine  Spirit,  he  was  able  to 
make  so  effectual  in  good  for  the  Church,  claims  a  large  share 
of  attention ;  and  his  subsequent  labors,  first  as  the  Assistant, 
and  afterwards  as  sole  Bishoj),  only  tended  to  bring  out  the  more 
conspicuously  the  qualities  of  heart,  mind,  and  fervent  zeal  which 


vi  Preface. 

had  rendered  that  pastorate  so  rich  in  its  fruits  of  good  and 
blessing-  to  his  people.  And  on  his  personal  side,  all  who  were 
brought  into  close  contact  or  intimate  association  with  Bishop 
PiNKNEY  could  not  but  feel  the  sweet  j^otency  of  his  Christian 
character  and  the  winning-  influence  of  the  graces  that  adorned 
his  Hfe.  So  it  may  be  that  having,  both  as  fellow-priest  and 
friend,  shared  his  confidence  and  love  for  so  many  years  I  have 
given  a  too  partial  coloring  to  his  portraiture.  If  so,  it  may  not 
be  unpardonable  under  the  cii-cumstances. 

O.  HUTTON. 


CONTENTS 


Chapter  I. 

Birtli  and  rarciitaire.      IHIO, 1 

Chapter  II. 

The  Family  Iluiiu'  in  Aniiaimlis.      ISTi,  .....       5 

Chapter  III. 

Education— St.  John's  Coll.'ge.     1822-'27, 13 

Chapter  IV. 

Studies  iu  the  Law — Connection  with  the  Methodists — Entrance 
on  Preparation  for  the  Ministry  at  Princeton.     1827- '31.  .     I'J 

Chapter  V. 

Princeton — Ketnrn  to  the  Church — Admission  to  the  Ministry. 
1H31  '34 • ■  .     24 

Chapter  VI. 

His  Charge  iu  Prince  George's,  and  Marriage.     1830- '38,     .         .     30 

Chapter  VII. 

Ministry  in  Prince  George's  Coianty — Erection  of  Churches  at  ]>la- 

denslmrg  and  Beltsville.     1838-'4(), 37 

Chapter  VIII. 

Election  of  Dr.  Whit tingham— Death  of  Kev.  Dr.  McElhiney— 

Associaticnis.     1840-'44, 44 

Chapter  IX. 

Visit  to  Virginia — Illness  of  his  mother — Call  to  St.  Anne's  Parish, 

Annapolis.     1830-'44, HI 

Chapter  X. 

Ministry  in  Prince  George's — Visit  to  Portsmouth  and  Boston. 
l^'lfi-V,!,      .         . .^.8 

Chapter  XI. 

Life  of  his  Uncle — Visits  to  Niagara  and  the  St.  Lawrence — 
Efforts  in  behalf  of  Colored  Peojjle — Call  to  the  Epiphany. 

1853-'56, '  .     '''<l 

Chapter  XII. 

Call  to  Ascension  Parish,  Washington,  D.  C. — Death  of  his  Mother. 

18.57  '58 80 

Chapter  XIII. 

The  War  Troubles.     18C)0-'r)l, 1»3 

Chapter  XIV. 

The  War  Troubles  Continued— The  Episcopate  of  Alabama — 
Political  Prayers — Military  Occupation  of  the  Ascension — Pre- 
sentment by  "the  Bishop.   '  18(;i   '(!2 103 

Chapter  XV. 

Standing  dmimittee — General  Conyention.     1862,        .         .         .   11"> 

Chapter  XVI. 

Bishop  Whittingham  declines  to  yisit  his  Church— Worship  in  the 
Medical  College — Return  to  his  Church — Lenten  Seryices.    18(13,   121 

Chapter  XVII. 

His  Poetry.     18(;4-'66, l'^7 

7 


^4ii  Contents. 

Chapter  XVIII. 

Mr.  W.  W.  Corcorau— Death  of  Dr.  J.  H.  Alexander.     1866-'68,  150 

Chaptek  XIX. 

Visit  to  Europe.     1869, 161 

Chapter  XX. 

Review  of  his  Rectorsliip  iu  the  Ascension  from  1857  to  1870,      .  172 

Chapter  XXI. 

Election  and  Consecration.     1869-'70. 188 

Chapter  XXII. 

Proposed  Assii>;nment  of  Work  and  Jurisdiction — Apiioiutinents 
for  Visitation.     1870 206 

Chapter  XXIIl. 

His  Work  as  Assistant  Bishop.     1870-'71, 21S 

Chapter  XXIV. 

His  Visitations— General  Convention.     1871-'72,  .         .         .226 

Chapter  XXV. 

Letters   to   Judge    Huntington  —  Burial   of    Confederate   Dead. 
1873-'74 236 

Chapter  XXVI. 

Erection  of  the  New  Church  of  the  Ascension.     1873.  .         .  242 

Ch.\pter  XXVII. 

Church  School  for  Girls.  Washington,  D.  C.     1873-'76,        .         .  253 
Chapter  XXVIII. 

Death  of  Mrs.  Pinkuey— Letters  to  Mr.  Corcoran.     1879-'80,      .  258 

Chapter  XXIX. 

Death  of  Bishop  Whittingham— The  Episcopal  Librar^^    1879-'80,  265 

Chapter  XXX. 

Kitualism   in    Marvland  and  the    Contests   growing   out   of    it. 

1879  '80.      .         '. 270 

Chapter  XXXI. 

Episcopal  Labors — Bishop's  Missions — Failing  Health — Death  of 

his  Brother.     1877-'80, 278 

Chapter  XXXII. 

Convention  of  1880, 289 

Chapter  XXXIII. 

Inhibition  of  Rev.   Mr.    Mortimer— Case  of  Mr.    W.   R.    Webb. 

18(Sl-'82 300 

Chapter  XXXIV. 

Convention.     1881-'S2, 306 

Chapter  XXXV. 

The  C:,'utenary  ('ounnemoration.     1883,         .....  320 
Chapter  XXXVI. 

His  Death.     1883, 336 

Chapter  XXXVII. 

Tlie  Funeral  Solemnities,        ........  341 

Chapter  XXXVIII. 

Conclusion,     ...........  355 

Api-i,ni.i\ 363 


LIFE    OF    RISTTO]^    PTNKNEY, 


CHAPTER  I. 

Birth  and  Pahentage.     IHIO. 

"\Vilija:\i  Pinkney,  the  Fiftli  Bislioi)  of  jVIaryland,  was  born  on 
the  17th  of  Apiil,  1810,  in  the  city  of  Annapolis,  Maryland,  in 
the  house  afterwards  owned  by  the  Loockerman  family,  located 
directly  opposite  to  the  Lloyd,  mansion.  He  was  baptized  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Judd,  Rector  of  St.  Ann's  Parish. 

The  ancestors  of  the  family  came  over  from  Normandy  to  'Eng- 
land  with  William  the  Conqueror.*  His  paternal  grandfather, 
Jonathan  Pinkney.  immig'rated  to  this  country  at  an  early  period, 
before  the  Revolutionary  War  and  settled  in  Anna])olis.  He  was 
a  sturdy  Englishman — a  man  of  great  courage  and  high  integrity. 
"  He  adhered  with  a  mistaken  but  honest  tirmness  to  the  cause  of 
the  mother  country,  and  sufitered  severely  the  consecpiences  of  his 
conscientiousness."!  All  his  property  was  confiscated  by  the 
Government.  Upon  the  restoration  of  peace  and  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  the  family  meas- 
lu-ably  recovered  from  the  disasters  of  the  Revolution. 

The  grandfather  was  twice  married,  the  second  wife  being  the 
sister  of  the  first.  The  children  of  the  first  marriage  were  two 
daughters,  Margaret  and  Nancy,  X  and  those  of  the  second  were 
Jonathan,  William,  and  Ninian.  The  first  of  these  three  children 
was  for  many  years  and  up  to  the  close  of  his  life  the  cashier  of 
the  "Farmers'  Bank  of  Marj^land,"  an  old  banking  institution  in 
Annapolis  of  standard  repute  for  its  sta1)ility  and  wise  manage- 
ment. He  left  a  large  family  of  children,  scms  and  daughters, 
known  and  honored  in  Annapolis  and  throughout  the  State. 

The  second  son,  William,  became  the  great  lawyer  and  states- 
man, celebrated  for  his  ability  and  eloquejice.  As  jurist,  diplo- 
matist, and  orator  he  acquired  a  European  as  well  as  a  national 
reijutation.  The  descendants  of  this  son  have  established  for 
themselves  a  reputation  worthy  of  their  distinguished  father. 


) 


*See  Life  of  William  Pinkney,  by  his  nephew,  jia^e  12. 
t  See  idem,  page  VS. 

X  Margaret  became  the  wife  of  Samuel  Hutton,  of  Annapolis.     Naney  nevt»r 
married. 


2  LIFE    OF    BISHOP   PINKNEY. 

The  thii-tl  son,  Ninian,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  memoir, 
was  born  in  Annapolis  on  the  25th  of  December,  1771.  He  was 
twice  married,  his  lirst  wife  being  Miss  Mary  Gassaway,  sister  of 
Louis  Gassaway,  who  for  many  years  hekl  important  offices  under 
the  State  :  she  died  two  years  after  her  marriage  and  left  no  child. 
In  1806  Mr.  Ninian  Pinkney  married  Mrs.  Amelia  Grason  Hobbs, 
a  widow  with  three  children,  Louisa,  Henrietta,  and  Heni-y.*  She 
Avas  the  daughter  of  Richard  Grason,  of  Talbot  county,  Md.,  and 
the  sister  of  WilHam  Grason,  the  first  Governor  of  Maryland  elected 
by  the  people  under  the  amended  constitution  of  the  State,  in  1838. 
Her  paternal  uncle  was  a  Revolutionai'y  officer  and  was  killed  at 
the  Tangier  Island,  off  the  coast  of  Africa. 

The  children  of  this  second  marriage  were  Amelia,  William,  and 
Ninian.  t 

Mr.  Ninian  Pinkney,  the  father,  held,  up  to  the  close  of  his 
Hfe,  an  important  official  position  in  the  State.  Under  the  con- 
stitution of  Maryland,  prior  to  the  amended  constitution  of  1838, 
the  Executive  Department  of  the  State  consisted  of  the  "  Gov- 
ernor," chosen  by  the  two  houses  of  the  Legislatiu-e,  and  of  a 
*'  Council  to  the  Governor,"  similarly  chosen  and  designated  as 
the  "  Executive  Council."  For  this  Executive  branch  of  the  State 
Government  there  was  appointed  a  ''  Clerk  of  the  Council,''  cor- 
responding to  the  office  now  held  by  the  Secretary  of  State.  All 
official  documents  emanating  from  the  Executive  Department 
were  designated  as  by  "  the  Governor  and  Council,"  and  were 
attested  by  the  "  Clerk  of  the  Council."  It  was  this  office  which 
Mr.  Ninian  Pinkney  filled  for  thii'ty  years — his  discharge  of  its 
responsible  duties  being  so  exact,  efficient,  and  acceptable  that  he 
was  constantly  retained  in  the  position  and  continued  to  enjoy 
the  confidence  of  all  parties  through  the  entire  period  and  to  the 
close  of  his  life.  The  pubhshed  notices  of  his  death,  at  the  time 
of  its  occurrence  in  1821,  refer  to  the  high  estimate  in  which  his 
character  was  held  in  the  community,  to  his  valued  pubUc  serv- 
ices in  the  office  he  filled,  and  to  the  indefatigable  labor  and 
marked  ability  with  which  he  discharged  its  duties.  Under  the 
old  constitution  of  Maryland  the  Governor  was  only  resident  in 
Annapolis  for  a  brief  period  during  the  annual  sessions  of  the 
Legislature,  so  that  there  devolved  upon  the  ''  Clerk  of  the  Coun- 
cil ■"  very  grave  and  important  duties.  For  the  greater  part  of 
the  year  the  trusted  department  of  the  Executive,  in  its  acts, 
records,  and  ministrations,  were  under  his  special  charge.  To 
have  so  honoral>ly  and  faithfully  filled  the  position  during  the 
whole  period  of  his  official  trust  was   alike   creditable    to   his 

*  Louisii  became  the  wife  of  Dr.  Gwyun,  of :   Henrietta  died  in  early 

childhood  :    Henry  never  Tnarried.  and  died  in  184-1. 

+  The  eldest,  the  daughter,  still  survives  (1890).  The  youngest,  Ninian, 
Ix-eanie  a  distinguished  surgeon  in  the  U.  S.  Navy,  and  died  in  1877. 


LIFE    OF    IJISHdl'    I'INKNEY.  .3 

capacity,  to  Lis  stcrliiif^-  woi'tli,  and  to  his  patriutit-  devotion  to 
the  welfare  of  his  native  State.  He  sou-^ht  no  pul)licity  or  dis- 
tinction beyond  the  assiduous  discharge  of  his  official  <luties. 
Cultivated  in  mind  and  refined  in  his  tastes,  he  found  his  chief 
enjoyment  in  the  liapjiy  circle  of  the  home  with  his  wife  and  the 
children  of  their  household. 

His  brother,  William,  then  the  United  States  Minister  at  the 
Court  of  St.  James,  writing  to  him  from  London  in  1808,  says : 

"I  am  half  iuoliiied  to  envy  you  the  smooth,  even  tenor  of  your  lift-. 
You  are  every  way  hapjjy — at  home,  abroad.  Nothiu}^  disturbs  your  tran- 
quillity farther  than  to  show  you  the  value  of  it.  Beloved  by  your  family, 
respertt'd  and  esteemed  everywhere,  your  otticial  eapaeity  acknowledged, 
your  official  exertions  siiceessful,  what  have  you  to  desire  ?" 

Although  there  were  two  sets  of  children  in  the  one  family,  yet 
all  lived  hajjpily  together  and  shared  alike  the  fond  care  and 
impartial  love  of  the  husband  and  the  wife.  The  bond  that  held 
them  all  together  Avas  as  strong  and  tender  as  that  which  could 
exist  in  any  one  household  where  all  the  children  were  the 
offspring  of  the  same  parents.  There  was  no  difference  in  the 
domestic  treatment,  none  in  the  proAdsions  made  for  the  comfort, 
training,  and  happiness  of  all.  While  in  such  cases  much  must  be 
due  to  the  father,  very  much  more  depends  upon  the  wife  and 
mother,  from  whom  emanate  the  influences  that  sweeten,  hallow, 
and  elevate  all  domestic  life. 

It  w^as  the  haj^py  fortune  of  Willi.\m  Pinkney,  the  subject  of 
this  memoir — as  it  had  been  that  of  his  great  predecessor  in  the 
Ej^iscopate  of  Maryland,  Whittingham — to  be  blessed  with  a 
mother  of  rare  intellectual  gifts  and  of  qualities  of  character 
eminently  fitting  her  to  be  the  faithful  and  loving  guardian  of  her 
children.  Next  to  her  own  duty  to  God,  the  whole  purpose  of 
her  married,  and  afterwards  of  her  widowed  life,  seemed  to  con- 
centrate itself  in  their  welfare  and  happiness.  She  was  a  woman 
of  singular  endowments  of  grace  and  intelligence.  Without  being 
specially  attractive  in  person,  there  was  a  beaming  benevolence 
from  her  countenance,  great  gentleness  and  charm  in  manner, 
and  a  voice  so  peculiarly  melodious  and  silvery  in  its  tones  that 
once  heard  it  was  not  easily  forgotten.  She  combined  with  a  deep 
religious  devotion  a  fine  poetic  fancy,  which  she  often  indulged, 
producing  poems  not  characterized  indeed  by  the  highest  de- 
grees of  inspu-ation,  but  which  were  yet  singularly  i)eautiful 
and  touching  in  thought  and  exi)ressi(m.  She  has  left  many  such 
poems,  some  of  considerable  length,  as  "  Pictures  from  ^Memory," 
'*  Incidents  of  the  War  of  1812,"  and  some  interesting  descrii)tions 
in  verse  of  her  early  and  married  life.  All  her  poetic  com2)ositions 
were  replete  with  deep  and  tender  feeling  and  rich  in  their  sweet 
unfoldings  of  a  heart  purified  and  sanctified  by  Divine  grace.  It 
was  only  occasionally  that  any  of  her  verses  appeared  in  piiut, 


4  LIFE    OF    BISHOr    TINKNEY. 

auil  those  very  brief,  as  some  special  incidents  called  tliem  forth. 
From  her  AVilliam  Pinkxey  inherited  much  of  his  own  poetic 
power  and  inspiration. 

Mrs.  Amelia  Pinkney  was  born  on  the  24:th  of  June,  1770,  on  a 
farm  now  forming-  part  of  the  "  Wye  "  estate  in  Talbot  county  of 
the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland,  and  all  her  early  life  was  passed 
amid  rural  surroundings.  In  one  of  her  poetic  pieces  she  gives 
graphic  account  of  the  farm  home,  the  servants,  the  domestic  occu- 
pations, and  tlic  changes  which  time  brings  about  in  all  human 
experiences.  Her  literary  taste  and  culture  made  her  a  delight- 
ful correspondent :  and  subsequently,  when  her  children  grew  to 
maturity  and  were  separated  from  the  home,  her  letters,  esjjecially 
those  to  her  son,  "\Villi.\m,  are  full  not  only  of  the  tenderest  moth- 
erly affection,  l^ut  of  counsels  of  wisdom  and  duty  drawn  from 
the  highest  soiu'ces  of  truth  in  the  Word  of  God  and  from  the 
deep  experiences  of  her  own  heart  and  life.  Throughout  that 
correspondence  of  many  years  we  find  the  free  unburdening  of 
heart  to  heart  in  all  that  touches  life's  dearest  interests,  whether 
it  be  in  the  claims  of  earthly  duty  or  of  the  higher  matters  of  the 
spiritual  life.  Mother  and  son  write  to  each  other  in  the  perfect 
confidence  of  their  mutual  love  and  sympathy.  One  feels  in  read- 
ing those  letters  the  sacredness  of  the  tie  that  binds  together  the 
parent  and  the  child. 

She  was  emmently  pious.  Her  early  religious  training  had 
been  in  the  communion  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church, 
which  was  the  Church  of  her  fathers.  For  a  considerable  period 
of  her  hfe  she  was  connected  with  the  Methodists,  to  whom  she 
had  been  drawn  and  won  by  their  early  spirituality  and  Godly 
zeal.  Subsequently,  when  recurring  to  that  connection,  she 
wrote  : 

"  Dt'iirly  ilo  I  love  the  CUiircli  of  my  futhevs.  Dearly  did  I  love  it  even  in 
childhood.  Dearly  have  I  ever  loved  and  prized  its  holy  doctrines.  My 
sainted  mother,  who  died  in  its  full  eommnnion.  early  brotight  her  children 
to  the  baptismal  font,  and  by  her  i)recepts  and  example  proved  to  me  what 
a  true  difeciple  could  and  <mght  to  be.  The  doctrines  of  the  Chiirch  were 
ever  to  me  al)ove  all  others,  even  while  I  was  a  Methodist.  I  knew  they 
were  held  by  that  body  even  as  I  held  and  still  hold  them.  Satisfied  as  1 
myself  am  that  the  form  of  sound  words  contained  in  the  Liturgy  furnish  a 
guard  from  error  and  fence  the  Church  from  the  changes  to  which  hitman 
nature  is  prone,  yet  never  have  I  douljted,  nor  can  I  ever  doiiVit,  the  good 
that  has  been  effected  by  the  Methodists." 

The  circumstances  relating  to  Mrs.  Pinkuey's  return  to  the  full 
communion  of  the  church  will  be  stated  in  a  subsequent  portion 
of  tliis  ^Memoir. 


LIFE    OF    J'.ISlKtp    riNKNKV. 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  Family  Home  in  Annapolis.     l.Sl'2. 

In  1812,  while  William  was  yet  an  infant  of  two  years,  his 
father's  family  removed  from  their  residence  in  the  large  lirick 
house  opposite  the  Lloyd  mansion.  The  house  to  which  tliey 
removed  was  a  plain  fraiue  cottage,  situated  on  a  lot  of  ground 
comprising  a  large  portion  of  the  square  in  which  it  was  located. 
It  adjoined  the  old  Fort  Severn  and  was  directlj^  opposite  the 
Governor's  house.  The  mother,  as  was  most  natural,  felt  the 
change  from  the  spacious  and  substantial  old-time  structure,  more 
roomy  than  their  needs  called  for,  to  this  smaller  and  plainer 
abode. 

Writing  of  this  changed  residence  she  says  : 

"  The  lociitioii  is  far  better  tliau  I  could  have  hoped  for.  I  .soon  ^ot  over 
my  gloom.  I  had  a  dear  and  interesting  family  aroTind  me;  and  love  can 
make  the  wilderness  blossom  as  the  rose.  Indeed  we  soon  had  roses  Ijloom- 
ing  around  ns.  The  needful  alterations  and  additions  were  made  to  the 
house  before  we  moved  into  it,  which  was  a  lovely  June  day.  It  had  assumed 
a  very  sweet  appearance.  jVo/r,  I  prefer  a  small  house.  Well  I  it  matters 
little  where  we  spend  our  days  if  we  spend  them  in  the  service  of  Him  who 
has  a  mansion  in  the  skies  prepared  for  all  who  love  Him." 

Very  soon  after  the  removal  of  the  family  to  their  cottage  home 
the  war  of  1812  broke  out.  The  city  of  Annapolis,  with  the  State 
buildings  and  archives,  was  in  perpetual  danger  of  destruction  by 
the  British  forces  :  for.  from  some  strange  predilection  for  the 
Chesapeake,  the  British  officers,  during  the  greater  period  of  the 
war,  kept  their  fleets  and  forces  upon  its  waters,  and  constant 
depredaticms  were  made  on  both  sides  of  the  l)ay.  For  a  long- 
time and  at  frequent  intervals  the  British  sl)i])s  were  anchored  oil' 
the  Annapolis  harbor.  Great  anxiety  and  alarm  were  experienced 
by  the  citizens.  The  city  was  without  any  defences,  and  no 
military  preparations  were  made  for  the  protection  of  the  inhabi- 
tants. Sir.  Ninian  Pinkney  realized  the  responsibility  of  his 
official  position  and  could  not  but  feel  uneasiness  and  fear  for  the 
safety  of  his  wife  and  children. 

In  some  reminiscences  of  this  period,  written  by  Mrs.  Pinkney 
during  the  latter  portion  of  her  life,  she  gives  a  graphic  descrii)tion 
of  the  consternation  and  excitement  produced  in  the  city  by  the 
appearance  and  long  stay  of  the  British  fleet  in  the  Chesapeake, 
near  Annapolis.     She  writes : 

"  Well  do  I  remember  the  day  when  the  tidings  that  our  Natitmal  Govern- 
ment had  declared  war  against  Great  Britain  reached  our  city.     Soon  after- 


6  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    TINKNEY. 

wards  came  the  uigbt  alarm  that  the  British  fleet  was  in  the  bay  and 
ai)iJroac'hin<^  our  harbor.  There  was  at  that  time  no  means  of  defence  in 
this  place  :  neither  was  any  effort  made  for  that  purpose.  All  seemed  blank 
confusion,  except  on  the  score  for  personal  safety  and  personal  interest, 
which  are  the  last  things  forgotten  in  this  selfish  world.  It  was  tacitly 
admitted  that  Annapolis  must  be  given  up  on  demand  and  no  show  of  resist- 
ance be  made.  How  sad  it  was  to  think  that  our  habitations  would  be  laid 
in  ruins  by  a  merciless  foe.  On  two  occasions  it  was  deemed  necessary  tliat 
the  women  and  children  should  take  refuge  for  safety  in  the  neighboring 
country,  lly  husl)and's  first  care  was  to  secure  the  public  papers  belonging 
to  his  "department  in  the  State  House  and  then  prepare  The  children  and 
myself  for  flight.  I  had  been  previously  kindly  invited  by  one  of  the  Gov- 
ernors of  the  State.  Gov.  Robert  Bowie,  residing  in  another  county,  to  take 
refuge  at  his  residence,  near  the  village  of  Nottingham,  which  I  then  grate- 
ftdly  declined  to  do,  but  now  we  gladly  accepted  the  hospitality  of  his  home. 
AVchad  been  neighbors  through  one  term  of  his  office  as  Governor.  As  soon 
as  we  arrived  my  host  was  at  the  door  of  the  carriage  to  meet  me  and  greet 
me  with  welcome  smiles.  There  I  did  feel  myself  at  home  ;  and  it  was  well 
for  me  that  I  did,  for  circumstances  compelled  me  to  remain  there  a  month. 
Never  during  that  period  did  the  cordiality  with  which  I  was  first  received 
lose  its  warmth,  and  never  was  I  permitted  to  feel  myself  a  stranger.  As 
soon  as  I  could  do  so  with  safety  to  my  childreia  I  returned  home.  The 
British,  however,  at  that  time  scarcely  looked  in  upon  Annapolis  ;  and  in  a 
few  hours  after  I  had  left  the  city  the  fleet  shifted  sail  and  coursed  down 
the  Chesaijcake.  It  seems  a  little  remarkable  that  the  very  place  to  which  I 
had  gone  for  safety  was  afterwards  visited  by  the  enemy  and  suffered  more 
than  we  did.  Some  of  the  inhabitants  were  made  prisoners  and  threatened 
with  a  visit  to  Halifax,  yet  they  were  in  reality  generously  treated  and  ex- 
changed as  prisoners  of  war." 

^Irs.  Piukney  writes  in  her  reminiscences  of  still  another  visit  to 
Prince  Georg-e"s.  made  under  different  circumstances,  to  a  special 
friend  of  her  husband.     She  says  : 

"  The  last  time  I  went  to  Prince  George's  was  on  account  of  my  own  deli- 
cate health.  I  was  not  too  languid  to  enj<jy  the  kind  attentions  there  lavished 
upon  me,  but  sufficiently  delicate  to  call  forth  the  sympathy  and  tenderness 
of  all  ar(mnd  me,  for  I  was  surrounded  by  the  kind  and  benevolent,  who  felt 
for  the  sufferings  of  their  felhnv-creatures.  I  have  never  seen  that  house  or  its 
owner  since :  but  I  think  it  is  in  my  son's  parish  and  that  some  of  that  family 
are  his  parishioners.  How  little  did  I  think  then  that  the  little  child  I  had 
witli  me,  just  beginning  to  lisp  in  infant  prattle,  was  to  be  in  after  years  the 
spiritual  director  oi  that  family  and  the  recipient  of  their  kindness,  and  that 
I,  tlu'  feeble,  delicate  mother,  should  live  to  see  it.  Much  pleasure  has  he 
had  in  his  irtcrcourse  with  that  family  and  in  the  consciousness  of  their 
regard  and  affection.  Many  sad  scenes  has  he  witnessed  in  that  household, 
but  through  all  Christian  resignation  has  sustained  the  sufferers." 

A<,'ain,  tor  the  second  time,  after  the  battle  of  Bladensburg  and 
the  burning  of  the  Capitol,  when  it  was  thought  that  the  British 
would  ud\ance  upon  Annapolis,  it  was  deemed  advisable  for  the 
safety  of  the  family  that  she  should  leave  the  city.  She  accord- 
inf,'ly  availed  herself  of  the  kind  offer  of  a  friend  of  her  husband 
to  make  his  house,  some  miles  distant  in  the  country,  her  abode 
for  an  indefinite  period.     She  writes  : 


IS 


LIFE    OF    ]5ISII(»1'    I'INKNEY.  Y 

"  I  felt  at  lust  that  it  was  my  tluty  to  take  advaiitat^c  of  tlio  faoilitirs  a  kind 
ProvidencH'  offered  iiie  to  take  my  young  family  out  of  tlie  way.  It  was  with 
a  heavy  heart  I  left  my  home.  My  husband's  duty  preeluded  thepossihilitv 
of  his  being  the  e(mi|)anion  of  my  flight.  We  remained  at  the  house  of  this 
friend  for  about  three  weeks,  and  then  returned  to  our  cottage  h(Mne.  After 
that  nothing  eould  induce  me  to  leave  it. 

"  How  well  I  remember  the  burning  of  the  Cajjitol  I  We  could  see  the 
light  of  the  consuming  Humes  from  our  dwelling,  but,  although  all  went  out  to 
look  at  it,  none  imagined  whence  it  i)rocei'dcd.  It  did  not  enter  the  mind  of 
any  one  that  so  daring  an  outrage  could  be  couimitted.  It  threw  the  whole 
coimtry  into  astonishment,  and  the  Nation,  like  a  lion  roused  from  his  lair, 
was  roused  with  indignation.  When  the  truth  was  ascertained  we  expected 
that  the  next  attack  by  the  enemy  would  be  tipon  Annapolis  in  their  way  to 
Baltimore.  We  quietly  waited  their  approach.  That  was  the  most  we  could 
do.  The  most  difficult  part  of  <ml-'  task  was  to  keep  the  body  quiet  while 
the  mind  was  full  of  excitement.  Once  or  twice  we  thought  we  could  dis 
tinctly  hear  the  Ijeating  of  the  drums,  and  jitdged  that  the  van-guard  wa: 
entering  the  city.  The  key  of  the  Government  House  was  ready  for  them 
Once  I  took  it  in  my  hand,  that  it  might  not  be  to  look  for  when  demanded. 
Still  they  came  not." 

Mr.  Niuian  Pinkney's  position  as  au  officer  of  the  State  govern- 
ment was,  durino-  this  whole  period  of  the  war  of  1812,  one  of 
very  grave  respousibiUty.  He  was  the  cliief  State  official  resident 
ill  Annapolis,  and  had  the  charge  of  all  the  valuable  State  docu- 
ments of  the  Executive,  the  Governor  being  resident  there  only 
for  a  short  time  while  the  Legislature  was  in  session.  Happily, 
however,  the  unprotected  "  Ancient  City  "  was  saved  from  ])om- 
bardment.  It  may  have  been  in  part  from  its  insignilicance  as  a 
commercial  city,  and  because  not  a  strategic  point,  l)ut  chietly,  one 
ma}^  believe,  from  that  veneration  which  the  English  Admiral  and 
officers  may  have  felt  for  a  city  which,  in  its  colonial  history,  had 
been  so  closely  associated  Avith  the  mother  country. 

Such,  during  his  early  childhood,  were  some  of  the  incidents, 
the  anxieties,  and  civil  troubles  experienced  by  the  parents  of 
young  PiNKXEY.  "\Mien  these  State  and  local  disturbances,  caused 
by  the  war.  ceased  upon  the  declaration  of  peace  in  1815,  the 
citizens  of  Annapolis  resumed  their  wonted  quiet  avocations,  and 
the  parents  of  the  Pinkney  fjunily  settled  down  in  their  peaceful 
cottage  home. 

This  property  had  been  purchased  by  Mr.  Ninian  Pinkney  to 
be  the  permanent  residence  of  the  family.  As  it  was  the  home 
associated  with  all  young  Pinkney's  early  life,  and  contuiued  to 
be  the  home  of  his  revered  mother  until  her  death,  it  may  l)e  well 
to  recur  to  some  interesting  cii'cumstances  connected  with  the 
locality  and  the  subsequent  disposal  of  the  property  to  the  Navy 
Department  of  the  United  States. 

The  lot  on  which  the  house  stood  was  separated  on  the  north- 
east side  by  a  narrow  street  from  the  old  "  Fort  Severn."  a 
military  post  established  by  the  General  Government  in  180S. 
This  fort  was  located  on  the  banks  of  the  Severn,  where  tlie  nvi^r 


8  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

makes  a  junction  ^^'itll  an  inlet  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay  that  forms 
the  harbor  of  AnnapoHs.  The  grounds  comprised  about  ten 
acres,  and  were  enclosed  on  two  sides  with  a  high  brick  wall,  and 
on  the  other  sides  were  open  to  the  waters  of  the  Severn  and 
the  harbor.  Here  were  posted  officers  of  the  army  with  their 
quarters,  and  a  military  force  sufficient  to  man  the  battery  at  the 
outermost  i)oint. 

Just  outside  of  this  National  foi't,  oji  the  street  leading  to  its 
guarded  entrance,  stood,  on  the  one  side,  the  "  Governor's  House,"* 
an  old  and  spacious  mansion,  solid  in  structure  and  antique  in 
style,  and  on  the  other  side  of  the  street,  immediately  opposite 
the  Governor's  house  and  near  the  gate  of  the  fort,  stood  the 
uni^retending  frame  cottage  of  the  Pinkuey  family. 

In  184o  the  old  Fort  Severn,  with  all  its  buildings  and  grounds, 
was  transferred  to  the  Navy  Department.!  The  position,  by  its 
location  and  healthfulness,  was  deemed  admirably  adapted  for  all 
the  jjurposes  of  a  Naval  School.  The  beautiful  Severn  flowing  on 
the  one  side,  the  Chesaj^eake  bay,  with  its  deep  waters  ojjen  to 
full  A-iew  at  the  one  extremity,  the  city  of  Annapolis  immediately 
contiguous,  and  Washington  City,  the  Capital,  of  easy  access,  it 
filled  all  the  reciuisites  for  such  an  institution  of  thorough  educa- 
tion and  complete  practical  training  in  naval  studies  and  exercises 
as  a  great  country  would  provide  for  those  who  were  to  be  the 
future  officers  and  guardians  of  her  navy.  Since  then  the  grounds 
of  the  Naval  School  have  been  enlarged  to  the  full  extent  of  more 
than  fifty  acres  b}^  increasing  the  water  frontage,  and  by  taking 
in,  by  purchase,  several  squares  of  the  city.  Large  additions, 
also,  of  landed  property  across  the  College  Creek  have  been  pur- 
chased for  a  Naval  Hospital  and  a  cemetery.  These  enlarged 
grounds  with  their  numerous  and  costly  buildings  have  been  so 
improved  and  adorned  that  they  have  become  as  beautiful  as  any 
within  the  National  domain. 

These  measures  for  the  enlargement  of  the  grounds  of  the 
Naval  Academy  made  it  necessary  that  the  Pinkney  lot  should  be 
included  in  the  plans.     It  was  accordingly  purchased    by  the 

*  This  house,  supposed  to  have  been  built  with  brick  brought  fi-om 
Englaud,  with  all  its  extensive  outbuildings  and  grovinds,  became  the 
Ijroperty  of  the  Government,  by  confiscation,  after  the  Revolutionary  War. 
It  had  been  erected,  probably  some  forty  years  before  the  declaration  of 
Independence,  by  the  Hon.  Edmund  Jennings,  of  Lincoln's  Inn,  Secretary 
of  the  Province  of  Maryland,  and  Judge  of  the  Land  Office.  It  was  occupied, 
if  not  f>\vned,  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  by  the  Colonial 
Governxr,  Governor  Eden,  who  took  the  Tory  side,  and  in  177()  sailed  from 
Aunaix.lis,  in  H.  B.  M.  Frigate  /'"/rr/-^.  for  Englaud.  In  this  way  the  house 
came  into  the  possession  of  the  State,  and  was  thenceforth  lised  as  the 
residence  of  the  Governor,  until  its  purchase  by  the  United  States  for  the 
Naval  Academy.  (See  Hiistonj  of  the  Naval  Acadeniu,  hij  PrnfeKHor  Sulev,  p. 
132-3.  j  •  y     J         J  y,i' 

'+  See  History  of  the  Naval  Academy,  by  Prof.  Soley,  p.  CO,  itdlicK. 


LIFK    OF    lUSIIol'    I'INKNKY.  9 

'Government  in  1853  ;*  but  out  of  the  most  considerate  re^^iinl  for 
its  then  aged  occupant,  Mrs.  Pinkney,  she  was  j)erniitt('d  to 
reiujiin  in  undisturbed  possession  to  the  close  of  lier  life  in  1858. 
The  old  Pinkney  cottaj^e  itself  was  not  removed  until  I8(i().  In 
some  of  Mrs.  Pinkney's  meditations  at  this  period,  she  writes : 

"  Eiifh  (lay  I  tukc  my  stand  at  tlu'  window  iiiid  look  at  the  chanyes  aud 
iinprovements  that  arc  f^oing  on  ai-ouiid  nii> — still  li'aviiig  me  unrestrained 
and  free.  My  pro])erty,  the  possession  of  which  I  havt-  had  for  so  many 
years,  will  soon  ehange  its  eharaeter  to  me.  It  is  my  own — and  yet  not  my 
own — mine  to  live  in  as  long  as  I  live,  bnt  yet  not  mine  iu  reality.  This  is 
something  similar  to  my  own  existence.  I  am  not  my  own,  for  I '  was  honght 
with  a  price,'  and  yet  in  many  things  I  do  as  I  list  with  myself,  but  I  can- 
not transfer  my  right  in  my  own  existence  to  another.  The  true  oirucr  will 
call  for  it  one  day,  and  then  it  must  be  surrendered.  May  that  day  find  me 
so  i)uritie(l  by  Divine  grace  as  to  be  meet  for  the  inheritance  of  the  saints 
iu  light." 

The  "  Governors  House  "'  still  stands  and  is  to  be  found  within 
the  enclosures  of  the  Academy,  near  the  southwest  entrance.  It 
has  been  converted  into  the  library  buildin<>'  for  the  Naval  School. 
On  the  gTound  opposite,  where  once  stood  the  cottage  home  of 
the  Pinkney  family,  there  now  stands  the  beautiful  chapel  f  of  the 
Academy,  in  which  for  years  the  services  of  the  church  have  been 
conducted,  and  where,  afterw^ards,  wdien  he  became  a  clergyman 
of  the  Church  and  was  subsequently  called  to  the  Episcopate,  Wil- 
liam Pinkney,  on  his  visits  to  Annapolis,  was  wont  to  officiate. 

How  strangely  the  most  unexpected  changes  come  about  as  we 
are  led  along  through  life's  pathways  under  a  Providence  that 
guides  us  we  know  not  how  or  whither  ! 

The  surroundings  of  one's  birth  place  and  the  personal  and 
historic  associations  connected  with  it  have  an  undoubted  and 
sometimes  jjowerful  influence  in  the  formation  of  character  and 
in  the  direction  of  the  development  of  the  whole  subsequent  life. 
Those  of  Annapolis  Avere  peculiarly  calculated  to  inake  a  deep  and 
permanent  imjiress  upon  the  mind  of  an  ardent  and  ambitious 
youth.  The  young  Pinkney  could  not  look  out  of  the  windows 
of  his  home  or  from  the  grounds  about  it  without  seeing  on  the 
one  hand  the  stately  building  representing  to  him  the  gul)erna- 
torial  authority  of  his  native  State,  and  on  the  other  the  military 
forces  guarding  the  National  fortress,  with  its  waving  banner  of 
the  stars  and  stripes  representing  to  him  as  well  the  dignity  and 
jDOwer  of  the  National  Government ;  and,  by  a  singular  coinci- 
dence, his  life  was  passed,  the  first  i)art  of  it  wholly,  between  the 
two  capitals,  Annapolis  and  Washingtim  ;  and  when  he  assumed 
the  rectorship  of  a  church  in  the  latter  city,  and  afterwards,  when 


*  See  History  of  the  Naval  Academy,  by  Prof.  Soley,  page  i:}'2.  lu^te. 
+  This  chapel  was  built  under  the  superintendence  of  Admiral  Porter,  iu 
18()8. 


10  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   PINKNEY. 

raised  to  the  Episcopate,  he  retained  his  residence  within  the 
borders  of  Maryland  to  the  close  of  his  days. 

Young  PiXKXEY  was  i)owerfiilly  influenced  by  these  early  asso- 
ciations connected  with  his  l)irth-place,  with  its  college,  and  with 
the  State.  His  heart  welled  up  with  gratitude  and  pleasure  as 
such  thoughts  and  memories  were  kindled  in  his  soul.  Often 
and  again,  in  verse  and  letters,  it  is  seen  through  all  his  subse- 
quent life  with  what  enthusiastic  ardor  his  affections  clustered 
around  the  ••  Ancient  City." 

Annapolis  became  the  seat  of  government  of  the  Province 
of  Maryland  in  1695.  As  early  as  1650  settlements  by  Puritan 
refugees  from  Virginia  had  been  made  upon  the  lands  con- 
tiguous to  the  Severn  and  the  Chesapeake,  but  it  was  not  until 
after  more  than  forty  years  of  disturbances  in  the  colony  that 
the  capital  was  transferred  from  St.  Marys  City  to  Annapolis. 
The  locality  had  passed  under  several  previous  names,  as  "  Pro- 
■\-idence,"  ''  Proctor's  Town,"  "Anne  Ai-undel  Town."  before  the 
present  designation,  fixed  upon  in  1695,  was  given  in  honor  of 
Queen  Anne,  by  whom,  in  1708,  the  city  charter  was  granted 
and  executed.  The  city  in  time  came  to  be  known  and  desig- 
nated as  the  "Ancient  City,"  in  part,  perhaps,  from  its  very 
early  settlement  and  importance  in  the  colony,  but  chiefly,  it  is 
supposed,  because  after  the  Revolution  it  ceased  to  be  a  place  of 
any  commercial  importance  and  lapsed  into  a  condition  of  stag- 
nation as  respects  growth,  wealth,  and  enterprise  ;  from  which 
condition,  however,  it  is  gradually  and  steadily  recovering,  and 
bids  fair  at  the  close  of  the  nineteenth  centui'y  to  reach  its  ancient 
prestige. 

At  the  i^eriod  of  which  we  write  Annapolis  was  noted  as  the 
seat  and  centre  of  a  high  degree  of  intellectual  culture  and  social 
refinement.  Here  were  laeld  the  annual  meetmgs  of  the 
Governor  and  Council,  and  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State 
Legislature,  and  the  almost  constant  sessions  of  the  Court  of 
Appeals.     Historically  the  cit^^  possessed  peculiar  interest. 

Stu-ring. events  in  both  Church  and  State  occurred  here.  It 
was  here  that  the  celebrated  commissary.  Dr.  Bray,  acting  under 
the  Bishop  of  London,  held  his  visitation  in  the  month  of  May, 
1700.  Here  the  grave  questions  of  civil  and  ecclesiastical  trouble 
were  considered  and  determined  by  the  colonial  representatives. 
It  was  here  that  patriotic  resistance  to  the  encroachments  of  the 
parent  country  upon  the  rights  and  liberties  of  the  people  very 
early  manifested  itself,  and  culminated  in  the  burning  of  a  vessel 
and  its  cargo  of  tea  in  the  harbor  of  the  city  in  October.  1771, 
nearly  two  years  before  the  signing  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
liendcnce.  In  fine  it  was  here  that,  at  the  close  of  the  Revolu- 
tiouai-y  wai-,  General  Washington,  in  the  Senate  Chamber  of  the 
Staff  H(nise,  on  the  23d  of  December,  1783,  resigned  his  commis- 


LIFE    OF    IMSIlol'    I'INKNFV.  11 

sion  as  commancler-m-chief  of  the  army  of  the  United  Colouiew 
to  retire  to  liis  rural  home  in  Virginia,  bearinof  with  him  the 
gratitude  and  the  phuidits  of  a  eountrj'  whose  freedom  and  inde- 
pendence he  had  been  so  instrumentid  in  achieving. 

It  may  be  said  of  this  ancient  city,  as  was  spoken  of  Sion  by 
the  Psahnist,  that  it  is  beautiful  tor  situation.  The  jjrospect 
frojn  the  dome  of  the  State  House  shows  that  it  is  almost  an 
island  city,  nearly  encircled  by  two  rivers,  the  one  making  u]» 
from  the  Severn,  the  other  winding  round  from  the  harl)oi-. 
Woodlands,  cultured  fields,  farm  houses,  fruit  and  flower  gardens 
are  seen  near  and  far  off  as  the  eye  can  reach.  The  Severn  is 
seen  stretching  up  for  six  miles  till  it  opens  itself  into  the 
picturesque  Round  bay.  The  blue  and  broad  waters  of  the 
Chesapeake  Bay  are  in  ^iew  for  many  miles,  bearing  on  their  bosom 
ships,  steamers,  and  smaller  craft  as  they  pass  to  and  from  the 
commercial  metropolis  of  the  State. 

In  his  youthful  days,  as  Pinkney  walked  to  and  fro  in  the  streets 
of  the  Ancient  City,  streets  then  only  partially  Ijuilt  up,  he  would 
see  here  and  there  over  the  cit}^  venerable  and  antique  buildings, 
with  their  ajjpeudages  of  brick  walls  and  stal)les,  erected  in 
colonial  days,  once  the  residences  of  old  English  families  and 
subsecjuently  occupied  mostly  l)y  their  descendants. 

Not  only  so,  wherever  he  might  be  in  the  city  or  in  tlie  viciiiity 
he  would  see  the  beautiful  dome  of  the  State  House  rising  far 
above  all  other  buildings  and  forming  against  the  blue  sk}^  a  never- 
ceasing  object  of  State  pride  and  joy.  Standing  upon  an  elevated 
mound  in  the  heart  of  the  city,  and  having  been  founded  and 
erected  before  the  Revolution  to  supplant  a  still  older  State 
building  that  occupied  the  site,  this  venerable  State  House  was 
fraught  with  associations  that  closely  connected  it  with  legislation 
under  the  mother  country,  with  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  with 
the  Congress  of  the  United  Colonies  and  Avith  the  government 
and  the  judicature  of  the  State  smce  the  ratification  of  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States. 

Then  too,  near  by,  in  the  centre  of  a  large  campus,  or,  as  it  has 
always  been  called,  "  The  College  Green,"'  extending  along  nearly 
one  side  of  the  city  and  reaching  to  the  waters  of  the  Severn  and 
the  creek  flowing  into  it,  stood  St.  John's  College,  then  alone  in 
its  solitary  isolation,  quaint  in  its  architectiu-e.  and  even  then 
venerable  in  age  and  of  great  repute  for  the  noble  sons  she  had 
nurtured.  It  was  at  this  college,  as  we  shall  see,  that  Pinkney 
received  his  education. 

Two  squares  distant  from  "  The  College  Green  "  was  the  old 
St.  Anne's  Church,,  a  spacious  brick  structure  of  the  Colonial 
l)eriod,  with  its  huge  square  tower  and  the  great  bell  wliich  every 
citizen  of  Annapolis  loved  to  hear,  as  not  for  church  only  but  as 
well  for  college  hours  and  for  municipal  regulations,  and  for  the 


12  LIFE    OF    BISHOr    PINKNEY. 

evening  curfew,  it  was  rung  and  tolled  by  the  old  church  sexton.* 
"When  long  years  after,  on  a  cold,  tempestuous  winter's  night,  this 
old  church  was  burned  to  the  ground,  the  flames  illuminating  the 
whole  city  and  surrounding  country  and  seen  far  out  on  the 
Chesapeake  Bay.  this  bell  gave  out  its  parting  toll,  as  with  tower 
it  fell  into  the  fiery  mass  below.  The  building  stood  on  the 
very  site  of  the  present  noble  church,  in  the  middle  of  a  large 
oval  space,  surrounded  with  tall  Lombardy  poplars,  the  ornamental 
and  shade  trees  so  common  in  those  days,  and  to  be  seen  long 
afterwards  upon  the  State  House  hill,  the  College  Green,  and 
about  many  of  the  old  mansions  of  the  city. 

The  inspirations  arising  from  these  associations  and  scenes  and 
suiToundings.  amidst  which  young  Pinkney  grew  up  to  manhood, 
greatly  tended  not  only  to  intensify  his  patriotic  feelings  for  his 
native  city  and  State,  but  also  to  foster  and  develop  those  powers 
of  imagination  and  poetic  fancy  in  which,  with  an  exuberant  dic- 
tion, he  delighted  to  indulge  and  never  wholly  relinquished  in  his 
niatiu'est  years. 

Strong  and  tender  to  the  day  of  his  death  were  his  recollections 
of  the  Ancient  City  of  his  birth  and  of  the  family  home.  The  last 
letter  that  he  wrote  was.  it  is  believed,  the  one  addi'essed  to  two 
young  college  friends  in  Annapolis,  graduating  in  1883  at  his  Alma 
Mater. 


*  One  <jf  the  most  noted  of  the  old-time  characters  in  Annapolis  was  Mr. 
•Joseph  Simmons,  commonly  called  ''  Joe  Moi'gue,"  or  "  Old  Joe  Mogg,"  the 
very  terror  of  the  children  and  the  women.  He  was  sexton  of  the  parish 
church,  grave-digger,  and  bell-ringer.  He  died  in  1836,  the  oldest  inhab- 
itant of  the  city,  being  abont  one  hundred  years  of  age.  He  was  exact  to 
the  very  miuiite  in  ringing  the  church  bell  for  service  hours,  for  corporation 
and  college  hours,  iisually  at  8  and  9  o'clock  A.  M.,  and  at  1,  and  3,  and  9 
P.  M.  As  sexton  he  kept  all  things  in  order  in  his  department,  and  seemed 
to  take  a  strange  pleasure  in  digging,  preparing,  and  rounding  up  the  graves. 
No  one  dared  to  disturl)  or  oifend  him  for  fear  of  the  threat,  "  I  want  you," 
•which  was  superstitiously  regarded  as  prophetic  of  a  speedy  death. 

"  When  he  had  reached  a  centenarian's  age,  he  was  an  object  of  interest 
to  all.  With  his  white  hair  flt)wing  over  his  shoulders,  his  aged  form  tottering 
with  the  weight  of  years,  liis  xliackliiiff  stej),  and  the  sombreuess  of  his  occu- 
pati(m,  he  presented  to  the  mind  the  ai>pariti<m  of  Old  Time  himself ,  lacking 
-only  the  emblematic  scythe  to  make  the  picture  complete. "+ 


t  See  '•  The  Anci.Mit  flity."  by  Mr.  Elihu  S.  Riley,  pages  250-3. 


LIFE    OF    lUSirol'    I'lNKNKV.  15 


CHAPTER  III. 

Education — St.  John's  Collkoe.     Ib"i2  '27. 

The  early  education  of  Willi.\m  Pinknev,  like  that  of  liis  younger 
hrother,  Niniaii,  was  for  the  most  part  received  at  home  under 
the  careful  instructions  of  his  parents.  There  was  only  the  differ- 
ence of  a  sing'le  year  in  the  ag'es  of  the  two  lu'others.  They  could 
both  recur,  in  after-life,  with  self-gratulation  and  an  honorable 
pride,  to  those  liapin'  formative  influences  and  principles  received 
and  imbibed  during  childhood  and  youth  under  their  wise  and 
loving  Christian  parents. 

Willi.\:m,  without  being  specially  precocious,  was  apt  to  learn, 
studious,  fond  of  books,  and  aml)itious  to  excel.  He  gave  early 
indications  of  his  predilection  for  religious  worship  and  for  oratory. 

In  reminiscences  written  by  his  mother  in  1850  she  recalls  some 
interesting  incidents  of  his  childhood  and  early  youth,  as  follows  : 

■'  William  was  quick,  ami  at  a  very  early  afje  (nmld  road.  When  called  to 
show  his  qnalitications  he  would  jfo  on  with  his  readiiii;  as  flTieiitly  as  if  be 
could  master  every  word,  wlieu  he  was  only  suljstitutinj^  his  own  :  iniaj^ina- 
tiou  and  fancy  supplying  him  with  all  that  was  wanted  if  the  printed  word 
was  diflticult.  The  Lancasterian  School  was  first  got  into  operation  when  he 
was  three  years  old.  He  was  sent  there  to  learn  the  alphabet,  after  which 
he  waS  for  some  years  taught  at  home.  How  pleasant  it  is  to  me  now  in  my 
<jld  age  to  see  my  dear  sons  still  meeting,  after  their  frequent  sc])arations,  in 
the  unsubdued  warmth  of  fraternal  love  and  mingling  thought  with  thought 
in  social  converse.  Then  I  recollect  the  days  of  their  happy  and  innocent 
childhood,  when  they  sported  together  beneath  one  roof.  It  was  the  custom 
of  their  father,  when  the  toils  of  the  day  were  over,  to  call  his  children 
aroxuid  him  and  in  pleasant  chat  l)eguile  the  evening  hours,  and,  after  their 
scli(K)l-days  commenced,  those  same  ho\;rs  were  spent  in  preparing  for  the 
studies  of  the  coming  day.  William  was  devoted  to  his  father.  I  never 
saw  at  his  age  a  deeper  tilial  devotion.  When  he  was  about  eleven  years  old 
he  accompanied  his  father  to  the  York  Springs  as  my  substitute.  He  went 
freighted  with  my  instructions,  and  faithfully  fultillcd  the  part  assigned  him. 
So  assiduously  did  he  watch  his  father,  that  he  should  not  eat  the  forbidden 
viand,  that  he  became  the  admiration  of  the  guests  at  the  establishment  and 
won  their  praise.  Ever  after  he  continued  those  attentions,  accomjianying 
his  father  to  his  room,  assisting  him  to  undress,  ;ind  lixing  everything  for 
his  comfort,  until  death  de])rived  him  of  that  beloved  parent.  Long  before 
that  time  his  attention  seemed  turned  to  the  office  he  is  now  filling.  I  think 
V)ef()re  he  was  seven  years  <jld  he  was  the  embryo  jireachcr.  Whenever  his 
father  and  I  went  out,  leaving  him  at  home,  his  operations  began.  He  w«mld 
gather  his  congregation  around  him,  tix  the  chairs,  mount  one  of  them  as  a 
tt'uqjorary  jjulpit,  and,  with  book  in  hand,  go  through  the  mimic  process 
of  public  worship.  The  voice  was  strong  and  powerful,  and  often  as  we 
returned  home  its  tones  would  reach  us  as  we  passed  the  garden  fence.  We 
sometimes  entered  unobserved  and  witnessed  the  uplifted  eyes  of  the  future 


1-i  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PIXKNEY. 

orator  as  he  stood  pouring  forth  words  full  of  love  and  devotion.  *  *  * 
Back  to  my  heart  comes  the  recollection  of  these  early  scenes  in  our  home- 
stead and  of  those  evening  and  morning  prayers  which  were  lisped  to  me  in 
the  accents  of  infancy." 

Very  soon,  aud  at  an  unusual  early  age,  William  was  prej^ared 
to  enter  college.  The  selection  of  a  college  for  the  liberal  educa- 
tion of  a  youth  is  always  a  grave  question  with  Christian  and 
thoughtful  jiarents :  for,  along  with  the  knowledge  to  be  gained 
and  the  intellectual  training  to  be  secured,  there  should  be  com- 
bined the  culture  of  the  soul  in  the  principles  and  habits  of  a 
true  morality,  which  recognizes  and  inculcates  responsibility  to 
God  and  the  obligations  of  Christian  vii-tue. 

Naturally  the  parents  of  young  Pinkney  would  select  the  Col- 
lege of  St.  John's,  which  stood  almost  at  the  doors  of  his  home, 
and  wliere.  under  the  influences  and  watchful  care  of  that  home, 
the  advantages  of  a  liberal  education  could  be  secui^ed. 

As  in  after-life  Pinkney  became  one  of  the  governors  and 
■visitors  of  the  college,  and  was  much  identified  with  the  efforts 
made  for  its  pei-manent  endowment  and  success,  it  may  be  well 
to  give  some  account  of  the  institution. 

Measures  looking  to  the  establishment  by  the  State  of  a  Col- 
legiate Institution  of  a  high  grade  were  taken,  on  several  successive 
occasions,  before  the  Revolution  :  and  in  all  of  them  the  city  of  An- 
napolis was  designated  as  the  location,  and  "  the  building  on  the 
])aiiks  of  the  Severn,  formerly  designed  for  the  Governor's  Man- 
sion, ' '  was  to  be  set  apart  for  the  purposes  of  the  contemplated 
college.  "  This  building  is  now  McDowell  Hall,  the  central  one 
of  the  numerous  buildings  constituting  St.  John's  College.  "* 
But  all  these  educational  measures  failed;  and  it  was  not  until 
1784  that  the  college  was  chartered,  nor  did  it  go  into  operation 
until  17S9,  when  under  its  first  President,  John  McDowell,  D.  D., 
the  college  entered  upon  what  promised  to  be  a  successful  and 
brilliant  career.  In  the  act  of  its  establishment  the  Legislature 
of  the  State  guaranteed,  "  annually  and  forever, "  a  liberal  sum 
for  its  support.  Large  private  subscrijitions  were  also  received. 
Unfortunately  for  the  college  the  State's  annuity  was  withdrawn 
in  1H0() :  and  from  that  period  to  the  present,  with  only  occasion- 
ally and  very  inadequate  relief  from  the  State,  the  college  has 
had  to  struggle  on  as  best  it  could  in  its  educational  work. 
Great  as  were  the  disadvantages,  there'  annually  went  forth  from 
its  halls,  graduates  eminent  in  the  history  and  the  councils  of  the 
>)tate  and  of  tlie  General  Government. 

It  was  during  the  years  from  1822  to  1827  that  young  Pinkney 
was  a  student  in  the  college.  For  a  short  time  in  the  earlier 
j)art  of  this  period,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hem-y  Lyon  Davis,  the  father 


*  See  Catalogue  of  St.  John's  for  187i,  p.  5. 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY.  15 

of  tile  distiii^uislied  Heiirv  AViuter  Davis,  was  President — a  mail 
who  ill  bis  day  stood  forth  as  cue  of  the  ablest  divines  and  ripest 
scholars  of  his  age.*  Dr.  Davis  was  succeeded  in  the  i)residency 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  Ratlerty.  who  brou{>-ht  to  the  position  the 
characteristic  ardor,  if  not  impetuosity,  of  his  Irish  descent.  It 
was  under  his  presidency  that  young  Pixkney  com])leted  his 
collegiate  course,  graduating  at  the  early  age  of  seventeen  yeai's 
at  the  commencement  held  the  22d  February,  1S27. 

It  may  be  proper  to  add  in  this  connection  that  the  college  did 
not  begin  to  emerge  from  its  long  depression  until  the-  accession 
to  the  presidency  of  the  Eev.  Dr.  Hector  Humphreys,  in  1H81,  a 
man  of  marked  ability,  of  most  varied  attainments,  and  of  much 
experience  in  academic  administration. 

Tall  and  commanding  in  person,  his  countenance  highly  Intel 
lectual,  his  dark  eyes  gleaming  through  gold  spectacles,  a  voice 
almost  sepulchi'al  in  its  tones,  he  presided  over  the  college  ^N'ith 
marked  digTiitj-  and  success.  And  yet  Avithal  he  was  so  kindly 
and  considerate  that  the  dutiful  aft'ection  of  the  students  equalled 
theu"  veneration  for  his  character.  Diu'ing  his  administi'ation 
there  was  Httle  occasion  for  the  exercise  of  collegiate  discipline. 
Dr.  Humphi-eys  made  very  large  and  important  additions  to  the 
curriculum  of  the  college  studies,  especially  in  the  varied  depart- 
ments of  the  sciences,  of  history,  philosophy,  and  literatiu-e.t 
By  his  persevering  efforts  active  measures  were  taken  to  promie 
adequate  college  buildings  and  to  estabhsh  the  institution  upon  a 
permanent  basis  of  prosperity.  He  appealed  to  the  Legislature 
of  the  State  to  fullil  the  contract  made  when  the  college  was 
chartered,  and  he  personally  canvassed  the  State  to  solicit  con- 
tributions. In  these  efforts  he  was  partially  successful,  and  if 
they  had  been  actively  seconded  and  promoted  by  the  Legislatvu'e 
and  citizens  of  the  State  St.  John's  would  now  stand  among  the 
foremost  institutions  of  learning  in  the  country.  It  is  at  length, 
1890,  under  its  present  able  President.  Dr.  Thomas  Fell,  begin- 
ning to  emerge  from  its  long  depression.     As  on  the  day  when 

*  The  writer  here  desires  to  record  his  youthful  recollectious  of  this 
venerable  man.  Owing  to  certain  troiibles  in  the  college,  he  ceased  to 
be  connected  with  its  administration,  and  established  a  private  school  of 
his  own  in  the  parsonage  of  St.  Ann's  Church,  of  which  he  was  Rector.  To 
that  school  it  was  the  writer's  i^rivilege  to  go  in  his  early  school-days:  and 
he  well  remembers  one  so  majestic  in  his  physical  j)roportions  and  so  great 
and  lofty  in  his  mental  endowments.  He  was  wont,  with  staff  in  hand,  to 
enter  the  school-room  and  take  his  chair  at  the  master's  desk,  where  always 
laid  the  long  birchen  rod.  then  an  essential  part  and  aid  in  all  effectual 
teaching. 

+  In  addition  to  what  is  stated  in  the  te.xt,  the  writer  wishes  here  to  record 
his  own  personal  sense  of  the  many  kindnesses  of  Dr.  Htimplu'eys  t»)ward 
him  while  a  student  of  the  college,  and  his  gratitude  for  the  wise  counsels 
and  aids  which  he  received  fi-om  one  who  was  to  him  as  a  father  and  the 
sruide  of  his  vouth. 


1(>  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKXEY. 

the  college  first  went  into  operation,  in  1789,  there  was  an 
assemblage,  one  hundred  years  after,  on  the  2Gth  of  June,  1889, 
of  the  president  and  faculty,  of  the  governors  and  visitors,  of 
alumni  and  of  students,  as  cadets,  before  the  front  portico  of  the 
State  House  to  j^roceed  in  orderly  procession  to  the  college 
grounds  for  the  centennial  celebration.  There  under  a  spacious 
canopy  erected  beneath  the  over-arching  branches  of  the  famous 
old  poplar  tree  in  the  campus  the  commemoration  proceedings 
were  held,  consisting  of  music,  with  prayer,  an  ode,  an  historical 
address,  and  an  oration,  in  the  presence  of  a  large  concourse  of 
friends  of  the  college  and  citizens  of  Annapolis.  On  the  next  day 
the  annual  commencement  exercises  took  place.  The  interest 
and  enthusiasm  manifested  on  this  occasion  give  presage  of  a 
future  that  will  place  St.  John's  in  just  and  honorable  position.* 

It  would  have  filled  the  soul  of  William  Pinkney  with  pride  and 
joy  had  his  life  been  spared  to  witness  and  join  in  this  centennial 
commemoration  of  his  Alma  Mater. 

"While  yovmg  Pinkxey  was  yet  a  student  at  college,  and  only  in 
his  fourteenth  year,  his  father  died.  Mr.  Ninian  Pinkney  had  been 
in  failing  health  for  several  years.  He  is  described  by  the  sorrow- 
ing widow  "as  a  husband  most  devoted  and  a  father  most  tender 
and  judicious."  His  last  moments  were  soothed  with  the  consola- 
tions of  religion.  Taking  his  last  farewell  from  all  the  members 
of  his  family  and  the  nearest  relatives  gathered  around  his  dying 
bed,  he  departed,  expressing  his  "  confidence  still  strong  in  the 
Lord." 

The  death  of  the  father,  occurring  in  the  maturity  of  his  years, 
devolved  upon  the  widowed  mother  the  temporal  care  of  the  family 
and  the  grave  responsibility  of  providing  for  the  education  of  the 
children  and  their  preparation  for  active  and  responsible  work  in 
life.     In  both  respects  she  proved  herself  fully  equal  to  the  charge. 

After  his  father's  death  young  Pinkney  continued  at  college  and 
remained  until  he  graduated,  in  1827.  being  then  only  seventeen 
yeai"s  of  age. 

He  was  the  youngest  meml)er  of  a  class  noted  for  ability  and 
scholarship ;  and,  m  (U'der  to  maintain  an  honorable  standing,  he 
had  to  lal^or  most  arduously  at  his  studies.  As  an  e-sidence  that 
he  succeeded  in  attaining  a  high  jDOsition  in  his  collegiate  course 
he  was  chosen  by  his  class-mates,  with  the  approbation  of  the 
professors,  to  deliver  the  valedictory  at  the  commencement.  That 
valedictory  has  been  preserved,  and  is  marked  by  unusual  richness 
of  thouglit  and  beauty  of  expression  for  one  so  young  in  years. 


*  It  is  interesting  to  churchmen  to  note  that  while  the  college,  by  its 
charter  and  throughout  its  whole  administration,  was  in  no  ways  .sectarian, 
"  l)i'iiig  fouiidfd  and  maintained  for  the  l)enetit  of  the  youth  of  every 
religious  denomination,"  no  less  than  .>«-i-f/i  of  its  eleven  pre.sidents  have  been 
eminent  divines  of  the  Church. 


LIFE    OF    lilSHOl'    I'lNKNEY.  l7 

In  those  days  it  was  customary  to  hold  the  college  commence- 
ments in  the  i)aiish  church  of  St.  Ann's  cm  the  2'2d  of  February, 
being  Washington's  l)irt]iday,  and  during  the  session  of  the  Legis- 
lature. This  practice  contiTuied  until  the  year  1H84.  after  which 
they  were  held  in  the  hall  of  the  college,  now  called  McDowell 
Hall.  "When  held  in  the  church  a  lai-ge  i)latforni  was  erected  over 
the  pews  that  surrounded  the  reading-desk  and  the  i)ulpit,  which 
then  stood  out  in  the  nave  of  the  church.  On  this  platform  were 
assembled  the  faculty  of  the  college,  the  visitors  and  governors, 
members  of  the  Legislature,  judges  of  the  Court  of  Appeals,  with 
distinguished  guests,  the  body  of  the  church  being  tilled  with 
citizens  and  friends  of  the  college.  It  was  a  severe  ordeal  through 
which  the  yoiithful  graduate  had  to  pass. 

Of  the  members  of  his  graduating  class,  six  in  all,  only  one 
sur^ives.  They  were  all  worthy  and  hcmored  sons  of  the  college.* 
Of  these  it  will  not  be  invidious  to  mention  John  Henry  Alexander, 
with  whom  Pinkney  maintained  uj)  to  the  time  of  his  death  intimate 
and  tender  association.  Dr.  Alexander  was  a  man  of  most  diversi- 
fied accomplishments.  Learned  in  all  departments  of  science  and 
civil  engineering,  a  thorough  scholar  in  the  classics  and  modern  lan- 
guages, possessed  of  a  high  poetic  genius  and  capacity,  skilled  in 
architecture  and  the  ai'ts.  he  combined  in  himself  the  most  remark- 
able attainments.  A  sincere  and  earnest  piety  in  the  communion 
of  the  Church  adorned  his  life.  In  him  Pinkney  found  a  wise 
counsellor  and  a  most  congenial  and  loving  friend.  A  life-long, 
through  not  frequent,  correspondence  was  carried  on  between 
them — the  lettei's  of  Dr.  Alexander  being  as  beautiful  in  their 
penmanship  as  minute  copper-plate  engraving,  and  so  perfect  as 
to  bear  the  test  of  the  microscope. 

It  is  impossible  at  this  period  to  ascertain  the  exact  curriculum 
of  the  college.  It  was,  no  doubt,  founded  on  that  pursued  at 
the  English  universities,  and  was  confined  almost  exclusively 
to  the  classics,  mathematics,  and  philosophy.  It  was.  however, 
in  these  branches,  so  discij)hnary  and  thorough  as  to  lay  the 


*  William  Harwood,  M.  A.  ;  late  State  librarian,  professor  at  the  U.  S. 
Naval  Academy,  orator  before  the  Alumni,  visitor  and  governor,  and  sec- 
retary to  the  board.  Mr.  Harwood  is  the  only  surviving  member  of  the 
class '(1890). 

John  Henry  Alexander,  M.  A.,  LL.  D.  ;  late  chief  of  the  Topograph- 
ical Survey  of"  Maryland,  professor  of  natural  history  in  the  College  of  St. 
James,  professor  of  mining  and  civil  engineering  in  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  professor  of  natural  philosophy  in  the  School  of  Letters  in  the 
University  of  Maryland. 

Thomas  Archer,  M.  A. 

Ezekiel  Hughes,  M.  A. 

William  H.  Tuck.  M.  A.:  Speaker  of  the  Hou.se  of  Delegates,  member 
of  the  State  convention  of  IS.'iO-'l,  judge  of  the  Court  of  Appeals,  orator 
before  the  Alumni,  jiidge  of  the  second  judicial  district,  Senator  of  Mary- 
land, and  visitor  and  governor. 


18  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   PINKNEY. 

foundations  of  sound  scholarship  and  varied  attainments  in  all 
•suhstantial,  liberal,  and  j^ractical  knowledge.  Modem  science, 
as  we  now  designate  it.  was,  in  its  comprehensive  departments, 
just  then  beginning  to  enter  upon  those  jDrofound  researches 
and  make  those  wonderful  discoveries  in  the  constitution  and 
order  of  the  natural  world,  its  forces  and  its  laws,  which  have 
rendered  the  last  half-century  the  most  noted  era,  scientifically, 
in  the  world's  history.  A  marked  change  has  now  come  over  the 
whole  system  of  college  and  university  instruction :  and  it  is 
feared  by  many  that  these  modern  scientific,  hterary,  and  historic 
studies,  valuable  as  they  are  in  beneficent  results,  may  altogether 
supersede  the  old  and  time-honored  studies  that  gave  such 
grandeur  and  lustre  to  the  learned,  and  yet  practical  and  progres- 
sive, men  of  the  past  generations.  Perhaps  our  present  advanced 
science  and  criticism  could  never  have  laid  theii'  sure  foundations 
or  made  theii*  marvellously  rapid  progress,  if  they  had  not  been 
in-eceded  by  those  classical  and  philosophic  studies  which  gave 
to  the  powers  of  mind  the  highest  discipline  and  fittest  prepara- 
tion to  master  knowledge  in  any  and  all  departments. 

Young  PiNKXEY  came  forth  from  college  with  a  mind  well 
trained  and  well  stored  for  so  youthful  a  graduate.  He  retained 
through  life  the  habits  of  study  thus  early  formed  and  a  fondness 
for  all  literary  pursuits  that  steadily  increased  with  his  years. 
There  was  nothing  in  his  college  career  that  marked  him  out  as 
one  of  an  over-eager  ambition  for  distinction.  The  humility  that 
so  beautifully  adorned  his  later  life  was  not  wanting  in  his  j'outhful 
days.  He  claimed  nothing  on  the  score  of  special  scholarship  or 
brilliancy.  He  knew  that  he  was  only  laying  fovmdations  for 
f utui-e  usefulness  and  honorable  position.  The  best  education  is 
that  which,  without  undue  stimulus  or  rivalry,  fits  a  youth  for 
after-work  and  after-progress  in  the  sphere  which  he  is  to  fill  in 
the  maturity  of  manhood. 


LIFE    OF    IJIHHOl'    I'lNKNEY.  !'.> 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Studies   in  the  Law  ;  Connection  with   the  Methodists  ;  Entrance  on 
Peepaeation  fok  the  Ministry  at  Princeton.     1827-'3L 

Whatever  may  have  been  Pinkey's  early  predilections  for  the 
ministry,  they  had  not  at  this  period  of  his  life  any  determinative 
influence  upon  him.  Although  he  had  been  piously  brought  up 
and  was  most  exemi^lary  in  his  conduct,  it  does  not  ap})ear  that 
at  this  time  he  gave  any  special  evidences  of  religious  impressions 
and  convictions. 

Soon  after  graduating  he  commenced  the  study  of  the  law  in 
the  ofHce  of  his  cousin,  Mr.  Somerville  Pinkney.  Having  completed 
these  studies  through  the  usual  course,  he  was  regularly  ad 
mitted  to  the  Inir.  He  did  not,  however,  enter  upon  the  i)ractice 
of  the  i)rofession.  His  heart  was  never  fully  in  it,  tdthough  then 
and  ever  afterwards  he  held  in  highest  admiration  the  profession 
of  the  law,  which  he  regarded  as  presenting  a  grand  and  noble 
field  for  all  forensic  eloquence  and  public  distinction  and  for  the 
profoundest  researches  into  the  principles  that  govern  all  social 
and  civil  life. 

It  was  during  the  prosecution  of  his  legal  studies  that  he  be- 
came deeply  impressed  with  religious  convictions  and  feelings  ; 
and  the  views,  hitherto  vague  and  unsettled,  which  he  had 
entertained  in  regard  to  the  sacred  ministry,  became  intensilied 
and  permanently  fixed.  This  was  brought  about  by  his  at- 
tendance upon  the  preachings  and  revivals  of  the  Methodists, 
which  were  then  attracting  great  attention  and  interest  in 
Annapolis.  His  mother  had  sometime  before  connected  herself 
with  that  religious  body,  and  with  her  husband  and  the  children 
attended  upon  the  Methodist  ministrations. 

From  the  first  settlement  of  Annapolis  the  only  recognized  and 
the  generally  professed  religion  in  the  city  was  that  of  the  Church 
of  England.  St.  Anne's  parish  was  established  in  1(592.  Up  to 
1771  the  only  church  in  the  city  was  the  parish  church.  Dui'ing 
the  Revolution,  and  for  a  numl)er  of  years  after,  the  parish  was 
in  a  very  depressed  condition.  The  ministrations  of  religion  were 
kept  up,  but  owing  in  part  to  the  evils  of  the  times  and  in  part  to 
the  fact  that  some  of  the  Rectors  were  men,  not  of  good  character 
and  wanting-  in  Godly  zeal,  such  coldness  and  formality  prevailed 
that  many  of  the  older  members  of  the  parish  and  their  families 


20  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   PINKNEY. 

were  cai-ried  away  by  the  religious  excitemeuts  that  bad  tbeii-  orioin 
in  Weslev  and  were  greatly  increased  under  the  eloquent  preach 
ings  of  AYhitlield  and  others.  Methodism  soon  became  a  powerful 
religious  element  and  agency  in  the  city.  The  first  "  Meeting 
House."  for  it  was  then  so  called,  was  a  plain  and  rude  frame 
building,  having  the  steps  leading  to  the  gallery  on  the  outside. 
It  was  located  on  an  open  space  east  of  the  State  House  cu'cle 
and  opposite  the  record  office.*  Thither  jDreachers  of  enthusiastic 
ardor  and  much  pulpit  power  were  sent.  Frequent  revival  meet- 
ings were  held,  and  it  seemed  at  one  time  that  some  of  the  best 
and  strongest  elements  in  the  parish  would  be  drawn  aAvay  from 
the  church.  It  is  not  surprising,  therefore,  that  one  so  ardent  in 
temperament  and  so  susceptible  in  nature  to  the  emotional  in 
religion,  as  Pinkney,  should  under  the  circumstances  and  by  the 
infiuences  that  surrounded  him  have  yielded  himself  to  what  then 
seemed  to  him  the  realization  of  the  power  of  true  Christianity. 
He  became  a  Methodist.  His  conversion  excited  no  little  interest 
and  comment  in  the  Ancient  City,  as  he  was  known  to  possess 
such  culture  and  gifts  as  would  put  him  at  once  into  prominent 
position  as  preacher  among  the  Methodists.  He  Mas  soon  called 
upon  to  take  his  })lace  as  one  of  their  exhorters  and  speakers.  He 
was  not  long  in  determining  to  enter  into  the  ministry.  This 
determination  forced  upon  his  consideration  a  matter  of  the 
gravest  moment.  He  felt  moved  and  called  in  his  inmost  soul  to 
become  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel.  '  His  convictions  upon  this 
subject  were  intense  and  strong.  But  he  felt  at  the  same  time 
that  he  was  unfitted  without  previous  study  and  prejiaration  for 
so  sacred  and  awful  a  work.  He  felt  then,  as  he  afterwards  more 
fully  realized,  that  no  man,  whatever  his  gifts  and  religious 
enthusiasm,  should  dare  to  enter  upon  so  sacred  a  calling  without 
the  most  studious  prei)aration  in  Biblical  and  ecclesiastical  learn- 
ing. He  determined,  therefore,  that  he  would  enter  upon  a  course 
of  jjreparatory  ministerial  study  and  not  seek  any  ordination  until 
he  had  completed  such  course.  "NVlien  this  determuiation  became 
known  it  caused  no  little  uneasiness  and  distrust  among  the 
Methodist  brethren,  especially  among  the  old  meml^ers,  who 
protested  a{,fainst  all  theological  studies  preparatory  to  the  sacred 
ministry,  insisting  that  whenever  there  was  the  true  inner  call  of 
the  Holy  Spiiit  to  go  and  j^reach  the  Gospel,  the  inspiring  gifts 
and  (jualifications  would  go  along  with  that  call  to  fit  the  preacher 

*  This  building  was  supplanted  by  a  neat  brick  house  of  worship,  erected 
about  1820,  near  the  original  site,  and  that  in  its  tiirn  was  f(>llowe<l  by  the 
j)n-si-nt  more  ornate  strnetnr*',  on  the  same  spot.  About  IKM)  a  small  Roman 
Catholic  chapel  was  erected  on  tlie  <.;rouuds  of  the  Carroll  estate.  Since 
then  tlie  Presbyterians,  other  branches  of  the  Methodists,  Baptists,  and 
others,  have  erected  church  Imildings,  so  that  now,  ISitO,  in  Annajiolis, 
are  to  be  found  all  the  <livers  sorts  of  religious  denominations. 


LIFE    OF    mSHOl'    PINKNEY.  "il 

for  bis  work.*  But  Pinkney  was  not  to  be  moved  or  turned  away 
from  bis  purpose  by  any  fears,  or  suspicions,  or  ar^nimcntutions 
by  otbers  in  regard  to  bis  future  course.  He  intbcated  tlius  ciirly 
his  determination  to  tbink  and  act  intb'pendeiitly  in  matters  tli.it 
toucbed  bis  conscience  and  duty,  liis  bcbef  and  combict. 

His  mind  turned  to  tbe  Tbe()b)gical  Seminary  at  Princeton,  New 
Jersey,  as  tlie  institution  wbere  be  eoiibl  l)est  jjrosecute  liis  })re- 
piu-at(n-y  studies  in  tbeology.  It  is  not  known  tbat  be  bad  any 
iucbnati(m  toward  tbe  Presbyterian  s^'stem  of  (b)ctrine  and  cbuicli 
government.  Tbere  were  at  tbe  time  no  ^Vletbocbst  tbeob)gical 
scbools  ;  and  tbere  seem  to  bave  l)een  no  intimations  or  sugges 
tions  given  to  bim  as  to  tbe  General  Tbeological  Seminary  in  New 
York  or  to  tbe  Episco})al  Tbeok)gical  Seminary  of  Virginia,  near 
Alexandria.  Tbese  institutions  of  tbe  Cburcli  were  not  tben  mucb 
known  outside  of  ber  own  communion.  It  is  quite  probal)le  tbat 
bis  attention  was  directed  to  tbe  Princeton  Seminary  l)y  tbe  Rev. 
John  Decker,  a  Presbyterian  clergyman,  at  tbat  time  professor  of 
tbe  Grammar  Scbool  in  St.  Jobn's  College,  witb  wbom  be  bad 
formed  quite  an  intimate  acquaintance  and  for  wlnnn  be  ever 
entertained  warm  regard  and  friendsbip. 

As  illustrative  of  tbe  religious  interest  and  excitement  among 
tbe  Metbotbsts  in  Annapolis  dui'ing  tbe  period  tbat  jjreceded 
Pinkney's  connection  witb  tbat  body — to  wbicb  reference  above 
has  been  made — tbere  are  some  reminiscences  by  bis  mother, 
"written  in  1851,  of  visits  to  the  city  by  several  of  their  most  dis- 
tinguished preachers  and  pulpit  orators — to  Pitt,  to  llyland,  and 
Bascom,  and  more  particularly  to  Summerfield,  of  whom,  as  to 
his  person  and  preaching,  she  thus  writes : 

"  I  liavf  not  forgotten  the  excitement  that  jji-cvailed  in  our  city  whi'U  the 
youthful,  the  ehxjuent,  the  admired  Sununerfiehl  ])aid  us  a  passinj^  visit.  Like 
Jeuny  Lind,  his  fame  had  preceded  him  in  this  country,  and  everywhere  he 
was  met,  ap))reciated,  and  applauded  hy  listeninj^  thousands.  The  weajxins 
of  his  warfare  were  spiritual  and  not  carnal,  and  to  the  lovers  of  pleasure 
more  than  the  lovers  of  God  he  did  not  hold  as  attractive  a  sjjell  as  tin- 
Swedish  niii;htiniiale.  Yet  even  the  lovers  of  pleasure  flocked  to  listen  ti>  the 
youthful  saint.  The  young,  the  beautiful,  the  gifted  listened  witli  lireath- 
less  attention  to  the  warnings  and  the  encouragements  which  Howed  sweetly 
from  a  tongue  that  seemed  to  have  been  touched  with  Heaveidy  inspiration. 
Houses  were  tilled  almost  to  suffocation  where  he  was  expected  to  preach. 
His  apijearanee  was  very  interesting — handsome  in  face  and  iierson,  his  eyes 
of  a  dark  bhxi'  and  of  very  sweet  expression,  his  countenance  intellectual, 
and  his  voice  full  of  fascination.  Of  all  the  ])uli)it  orators  I  have  ever 
listened  to  he  excelled  in  the  power  to  charm  :  for  in  him  all  the  graces  of 


*  Since  then  a  great  change  in  their  views  and  in  their  policy  of  adminis- 
tration has  taken  phu-e  among  the  Methodists.  They  have  become  sn 
numerous  and  powerful  that  they  have  erected  and  largely  endowed  very 
many  colleges,  theological  seminaries,  and  universities.  Tliey  are  now 
among  the  foremost  advocates  and  promoters  of  all  secular  and  ecclesiastical 
learniniT. 


22  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKXEY. 

delivery  au<l  all  the  resources  of  a  richly-gifted  mind  were  united  with  and 
ruled  l)y  the  ardent  spirit  of  ])iety.  and  all  were  laid  a  willing  sacrifice  on 
the  Altar  of  his  Lnrd.  I  saw  him  several  times  in  the  private  circle,  and  I 
listened  to  three  of  his  discoiirses  from  the  pulpit.  His  visit  here  made  a 
deej)  impression,  and  we  indiilged  the  hope  that  it  might  be  repeated,  but 
his  davs  were  numbered,  and  a  few  months  afterward  he  was  in  the  silent 
grave,  and  his  light  was  withdrawn  from  the  children  of  men.*  Summerfield 
was  no  common  man.  His  speech  did  distil  as  the  dew  upon  the  mown  grass. 
There  was  a  i)eculiar  pathos  in  his  voice  and  manner  when  he  addressed  the 
children  of  the  congregation.  Every  little  eye  was  turned  to  him  in  an 
instant,  V)eaming  with  aflfection  and  interest,  and  his  words  to  them  were 
breathed  out  so  sweetly  that  one  would  be  induced  to  believe  his  mission 
was  jjarticularly  intended  for  that  class.  The  name  of  John  Summerfield 
will  live  in  affectionate  remembrance  in  all  places  where  his  speech  has 
been  heard.  He  was  a  burning  and  a  shining  light,  and  the  intensity  of  the 
flame  soon  consumed  the  fi'ame  which  held  it.  His  was  a  spirit  of  love,  and 
he  ai)peared  literally  to  behold  a  brother  in  every  child  of  Adam." 

While  William  Pinkney  was  gi\'iiig  his  thoughts  to  ministerial 
studies  and  prei:)aiing  to  go  to  the  Theological  Seminary  at 
Princeton,  his  younger  brother,  Ninian.  was  preparing  at  the 
same  time  to  go  to  Philadelphia  to  attend  the  lectures  at  the 
Jefferson  Medical  College  in  that  city.  His  medical  stutlies  had 
been  prosecuted  in  the  office  of  Dr.  Edward  Sparks,  a  success- 
ful practising  physician  in  AnnajDolis,  and  at  the  same  time  and 
for  many  years  the  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages  in  St.  John's 
College.  Young  Ninian  was  seeking  admission  into  the  Medical 
Corps  of  the  United  States  Navy ;  and  upon  his  admission  sub- 
sequently mto  that  corjjs  he  became  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished surgeons  in  the  Navy.  The  mutvial  attachment  between 
these  two  brothers,  and  theii*  fond  and  almost  excessive  admira^ 
tion  for  each  other  was  in  the  case  of  both  of  them  a  life-long 
characteristic.  From  childhood  till  death  parted  them  they  were 
as  loving  and  dear  to  each  other  as  any  kindred  souls  could  be. 
Whenever  in  after-life,  the  one  or  the  other  was  sick,  the  well 
one.  if  it  were  possible,  was  sj^eedily  by  the  bedside  of  the 
sufferer — the  surgeon  with  his  great  skill  in  medical  practice 
and  the  clergyman  with   his  especial    gifts  for  tender  nursing. 

The  departure  of  these,  her  two  sons,  for  the  first  time  from 
the  parental  home  to  cities  which  then  seemed  far  more  distant 
than  in  these  days  of  rapid  railroad  travel,  is  very  touchingly 
described  by  then-  mother  in  her  reminiscences  of  the  parting 
scene.     It  was  in  October,  1831. — 

"  The  youngest  and  the  gayest  (Ninian)  first  went  forth.  His  destination. 
wa.s  to  a  sister  city  CPhiladelphia),  to  attend  lectures  in  the  healing  art, 
in  the  practise  of  which  I  have  in  these  latter  days  the  pleasiue  of  regard- 
ing him  as  a  proficient.  We  felt  in  this  parting  that  he  would  come  again 
in  spring  to  cheer  his  widowed  mother  and  his  only  sister.   "' 

*  Kummerfield  died  in  1824. 


MFF.    OF    liisilol'    I'lNKNKY.  23 

'•  But  when  I  parted  from  Wh.i.iam  a  week  or  ten  days  later,  the  Htroke 
was  more  heavy,  the  effect  more  histinj^.  I  have  not  for;i;otten  it.  I  do 
not  feel  as  if  I  ever  could  forj^et  it,  for  he  was  ^^oin;^  forth  to  enter  ujkhi  a 
new  life  amid  scenes  and  trials  to  which  he  had  hitherto  Ijeen  a  stranger. 
We  sat  in  silence  and  unocciipicfl,  scarcely  able  to  control  our  fcelini^s. 
The  picture  of  that  scene  is  present  now  to  my  imai^ination.  His  slij,'ht 
li<^ure,  st)  unlike  the  full  pro])ortions  it  has  since  assumed,  his  heamin^^ 
countenance  expressive  of  sorrowful  affection — but  uothin^^  paxises  hm^  in 
this  stirring  and  exciting  world — delay  was  painful.  Once  more  he  stooil 
erect,  drew  on  his  gloves,  and  bade  the  sad,  fond  farewell  to  mothi-r  and 
sister,  and  passed  from  our  sight — the  Jirnt  to  go  alone  from  my  little  family 
torcturn  no  more  as  an  abidin<r  member." 


24:  LIFE    OF   BISHOr    PINKXEY. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Pkinceton — Return  to  the  Church — Admission  to  the  Ministry. 

1831-'34. 

Mr.  Pixkxey  entered  the  Princeton  Theological  Seminary  in 
October.  1831,  being  then  just  j^ast  the  twenty-tirst  year  of  his 
age.  Very  naturally,  on  this  the  first  instance  of  his  leaving 
home  for  a  prolonged  absence,  he  felt  depressed  and  almost 
desi)ondent,  but  the  natural  buoyancy  of  his  temperament  and 
the  noble  purposes  that  actuated  him  soon  lifted  him  out  of  this 
condition.     In  his  first  letter  home  to  his  mother  he  writes : 

"  With  a  feeble  constitution  what  can  I  accomplish  ?  Comparatively  noth- 
ing. However.  I  am  determined  to  do  the  best  I  can  and  leave  the  success 
to  God.  The  passion  of  emulation  once  urged  me  onward  in  a  course  of 
vigorous  exertion  and  painful  solicitude  ;  but  the  dreams  of  ambition  have 
vanished,  the  spell  has  been  broken,  and  my  soul  has  been  brought  to  con- 
template itself  in  the  muTor  of  truth  and  taught  to  glory  in  nothing  but  the 
Cross  of  CHRIST  and  Him  crucified.  On  Saturday  last  I  got  possession  of 
my  room,  and  am  u<  )w  comfortably  fixed.  I  have  enough  to  do  at  all  times  and 
can  euj(jy  many  religious  privileges,  and.  when  inclined,  I  can  associate  with 
those  who,  like  myself,  are  preparing,  by  the  assistance  of  God,  for  greater 
usefulness.  Truly  I  am  favored ;  and  yet  I  am  often  cast  down  in  spirit. 
At  twilight  I  feel  pensive  and  sigh  for  home.  The  remembrance  of  past 
scenes,  in  which  I  have  mingled  and  from  which  I  derived  not  only  pleasure, 
but  instruction,  casts  a  shade  of  melancholy  over  me  which  I  cannot  shake 
off — a  stranger,  though  in  my  native  laud,  sighing  for  the  enjoyments  of 
home,  striving  to  prepare  myself  for  the  ministry  of  the  LORD  JESUS.  If 
I  am  qualilied,  may  the  LORD  permit  me  to  go  forth,  I  care  not  where,  if  He 
go  with  me." 

He  remained  at  Princeton  for  two  years,  passing  the  intervals 
between  the  sessions  at  the  home  in  Annapolis.  He  would  prob- 
ably have  continued  at  the  seminary  for  the  third  year  had  his 
health  and  the  circumstances  of  the  family  permitted.  His  mother 
in  her  letters  had  frequently  expostulated  with  him  about  his  too 
assiduous  prosecution  of  studies  and  the  neglect  of  j^roper  care 
of  his  health.  At  the  end  of  the  second  year  it  became  necessary 
for  him  to  temi^orarily  susi)end  his  studies.  He  remained  at  home 
during  the  succeeding  winter.  This  gave  him  the  rest  and  the 
recuperation  he  so  much  needed.  Happy  Avere  the  hours  passed 
in  that  sweet  cottage  home  with  his  mother  and  sister. 

As  frequent  mention  is  made  in  this  Memoir  of  his  mother,  and 
extracts  given  from  her  reminiscences  and  papers,  it  may  be  well 
to  (piote  some  passages  from  his  letters,  showing  with  what  tender 
and  full-hcaitcd  love  he  reciprocated  her  affection,  how  he  revered 


LIFE    OF    lUSKOl'    PINKNEV.  25 

her  character  aud  i)rize(l  her  counsels,  and  with  wliat   filial  juidc 
iiud  admiration  he  regarded  her. 

In  one  of  his  letters  to  her  from  Piinceton  lie  wiote : 

..  *  *  «  f  ^^>  persuiil  of  Your  hi^'hly  interostiii^'  lettvriiffordrd  mo  iinicli 
enjoymciit  iind  nuic-li  solid  iinprovcnicut.  Weill  I  kin'w  that  iiotliiii;^  l)Ut 
streams  of  pleasure  and  instruction  could  flow  from  so  rich  a  fountain. 

.i  «  «  i<  Truly  I  have  been  blessed  of  (rod  in  such  a  mother — and  while  I 
can  boast  of  a  mother  from  whom  I  can  at  all  times  learn  wisdom  and  ])iety, 
I  can  with  equal  exultation  recur  to  the  memory  of  a  father,  who  was 
tenderly  alive  to  all  my  infant  desires,  aud  to  whom  I  clung  as  the  ivy  to 
the  protecting  oak,  till  by  the  stroke  of  Heaven  I  was  severed  from  bis  side." 

And  again,  writing  to  his  sister,  he  says : 

"  I  was  much  relieved  when  I  heard  that  our  dear  mother  was  convalescing, 
that  her  disease  was  averted,  and  her  valuable,  or  rather  invahiable,  life 
was  spared.  I  fear  I  shall  never  appreciate  the  worth  of  such  a  blessing 
until  I  am  deprived  of  it.  " 

Hence  he  was  accustomed  to  counsel  with  his  mother  in  all 
matters  that  touched  his  interest,  his  welfare,  his  duty,  and  the 
future  course  of  his  life.  He  always  found  in  her  sym])athiziiig 
heart  the  fulness  of  a  mother's  love  and  in  her  well-matured  mind 
the  ability  to  give  wise  and  judicious  counsels. 

His  studies  at  Princeton  seem  to  have  been  principally,  almost 
exclusively,  given  to  the  exegesis  and  interpretation  of  the 
Scriptures  under  its  able  professors.  In  his  letters  while  at  the 
institution  thei'e  are  no  inamaticms  that  his  attenti(m  was  in  any 
way  specially  directed  to  Church  organization  and  gcnernment, 
or  to  early  ecclesiastical  history.  At  that  period,  as  indeed  too 
much  so  since,  young  and  ardent  minds  full  of  earnestness 
and  zeal,  looking  to  the  great  work  of  2)reaching  CHEIST  to  a 
sinful  world,  failed  to  discern  the  sore  evils  of  schisms  in  the 
Church  of  CHRIST  and  regarded  all  forms  of  Church  government 
as  matters  of  human  arrangement  and  as  having  no  specific  divine 
authority  and  obligation.  So  his  mind  during  this  period  seems 
not  to  have  been  exercised  on  these  subjects. 

There  was  one  matter,  however,  that  for  a  while  gave  him 
much  anxious  thought — it  w'as  that  of  becoming  a  missionary  to 
the  heathen  in  foreign  lands. 

Theological  schools  are  for  the  most  j^art  the  sources  whence 
come  the  supplies  for  the  mission  tielrls,  both  at  home  and  abroad. 
Thither  are  sent  the  varied  missicm  j)ublications.  full  of  facts  and 
persuasives,  to  the  work.  Thither  go  the  officers  and  agents  of 
missionary  boards  to  lay  before  the  students  the  necessities  and 
claims  of  their  respective  fields.  Thither,  too,  re.sort  the  niissicm- 
aries  as  they  return,  temporarily  or  permanently,  from  their  tields 
of  labor.  And  among  themselves  the  students  hold  missionary 
meetings  for  prayers  and  addresses,  so  that  a  tjuickened  zeal  in 


26  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

behalf  of  the  cause  is  kept  up.  Stii-red  by  these  feelings  young 
PiNKXEY  began  seriously'  to  think  it  his  duty  to  enter  the  foreign 
mission  tiekl.  without  havmg  smj  definite  purjoose  as  to  the 
religious  body  under  Avhose  auspices  and  protection  he  would  go. 
He  accordingly  wrote  to  his  mother  upon  the  subject.  She 
writes  as  follows : 

"I  want  you  to  be  intcifsU'd,  deeply  interested,  for  the  salvation  of  the 
heathen,  hut  I  am  not  able  to  say  that  I  woiald  willingly  give  yon  up  for  that 
service.  Much.  I  Hatter  myself,  it  may  be  in  your  power  to  do  for  the 
inhabitants  of  our  own  highly-favored  country,  and  much,  through  them, 
may  you  do  for  the  spiritual  benefit  of  those  who  are  sitting  in  darkness. 
Yoi;  may  by  prudence  and  judicious  treatment  of  yourself  live  long  and  use- 
fully in  tlu'  country  of  your  birth.  Yours  is  not  a  eonstitiition  or  a  frame  to 
bear  the  hardships  and  fatigues  of  a  missionary's  life,  neither  is  yours  a  spirit 
to  bear  uninjured  the  loss  of  religious  society  and  the  final  separation  from 
ende;ired  friends.  I  have  studied  your  character  well,  and  this  is  my  candid 
oi)inion.  Nothing  but  a  belief  that  a  necessity  was  laid  upon  you  from  on 
high  could  reconcile  me  to  it.  Then,  indeed,  submission  would  become  my 
duty,  and  my  efforts  to  acquiesce  in  it  would  not  be  wanting." 

These  wise  counsels  and  his  own  further  reflections  determined 
him  to  abandon  all  idea  of  gomg  into  the  foreign  missionary  field, 
but  in  all  his  subsequent  life  he  continued  to  be  actuated  by  a  mis- 
sionary spirit. 

In  his  letter  to  his  mother,  he  says  : 

*'  Your  reasons  I  weighed  well,  and  I  believe  them  to  be  most  powerful. 
It  is  a  hard  question  to  decide.  There  are  many  considerations  for  and 
against  such  a  step.  Every  man  who  loves  the  Lord  must  feel  deeply  for 
the  i)oor  heathen,  and  this  very  feeling  in  the  bosom  of  a  minister  of  Christ, 
which  he  must  cherish,  will  render  him  desirous  to  go.  On  the  other  hand 
ease,  comfort,  country,  and  home  may  unduly  influence  him.  "When  I  think 
of  my  natural  disjiosition  I  see  none  of  the  qualifications  for  a  missionary. 
It  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  a  home  station.  When  I  look  at  my  health  and 
bodily  frame  I  am  convinced  it  will  not  stand  a  foreign  climate.  Great  care 
will  only  jtreserve  it  a  little  while,  in  my  opinion,  in  a  land  like  this  where  I 
have  every  comfort.  When  I  look  at  you  and  my  sister  I  feel  bound  to 
remain.  I  may  safely  rely  upon  your  wisdom  and  judgment  as  far  as  I  can 
rely  upon  any  human  judgment." 

Ill  her  reply  she  expresses  herself  as  follows  : 

"I  feel  thankful  that  you  agree  with  me  as  to  the  duty  of  devoting  your 
ministerial  labors,  whatever  they  may  be,  to  the  good  of  your  own  country- 
men, and  in  that  way  do  all  that  you  can  to  further  the  interests  of  the 
heathen.  You  are  right,  my  child,  in  saying  that  I  would  not  raise  my  voice 
against  the  jilain  indications  of  duty.  In  the  present  instance  I  can  thank 
(iOl)  that  duty  and  inclination  are  not  at  variance." 

At  the  close  of  the  winter  (1833-4)  succeeding  his  second 
year  at  Princeton,  there  was  ofi'ered  to  him  the  situation  of 
]n-i\ate  tutor  in  the  family  of  Mr.  John  Nevett  Steele,  near  Vienna, 
Dorchester  county,  on  the  Eastern  Shore.     This  situation,  while 


LIFE    OF    IJISnor    riNKNEY.  27 

l)r()vi(lino-  a  sufficient  support  aud  }^iviii<^-  him  some  occupiition  in 
teaching:  the  throe  ehiklren  of  the  faniiW,  woukl  enable  him  to 
continue  the  prosecution  of  his  theoh)oical  studies.  He  accepted 
the  2)osition.  It  gave  him  a  deh<>htful  home  in  one  of  the  okl 
families  of  Maryland,  so  noted  for  all  the  refined  amenities  of 
life.     Fortunately  for  Mr.  Pinkney,  it  was  a  Church  fiimily. 

This  hapi)eued  to  be,  as  is  not  unusual  in  the  occurrences 
of  life,  the  turniiig-})oint  of  Mr.  Pinkney's  Avhole  future  career. 
It  was  in  this  family  that  his  attention  was  tirst  seriously 
tlirected  to  the  claims  of  the  Church  in  her  Apostolic  Ministry.  He 
had  not  previously  t!onsidered  or  duly  weij^hed  them.  Conversa- 
tions upon  ]-elioi()us  subjects  with  Mrs.  Steele,  who  was  a  cultivated 
and  devout  mend)er  of  the  Cluirch,  may  have  had  some  influence 
hi  turning-  his  mind  to  the  ministry  of  the  Church — which  Avas 
indeed  the  Church  of  his  fathers,  and  from  which  he  had  been 
separated,  not  alienated,  by  his  connection  with  the  Methodists. 
It  was  uncertain,  as  far  as  we  have  any  means  of  knowing, 
whether  at  this  time,  in  his  studies,  his  mind  was  turning  to  the 
Methodist  or  the  Presbyterian  ministry.  It  seems  that  he  must 
have  been  undecided  as  to  his  course.  Under  God,  his  happy 
domicile  in  a  devout  and  earnest  Church  family  had  its  intliience 
up(m  him.  With  Mrs.  Steele's  assistance  and  co-operation,  he 
estal)lished  a  Sunday-school  in  the  public  school-house,  near  the 
family  residence  ;  and  there  are  those  yet  living  who  i)leasantly 
remember  those  early  Sunday-school  days.  While  in  this  family, 
a  new  direction  seems  to  have  been  given  to  his  studies.  His 
mind  became  much  interested  on  the  subject  of  church  govern- 
ment. He  entered  upon  a  careful  and  thorough  investigation 
into  the  scriptural  and  apostolic  constitution  of  the  Church  in 
the  three  orders  of  the  sacred  ministry.  The  standard  authors 
of  the  Church  upon  these  questions  w'ere  carefully  and  thoroughly 
studied,  and  the  result  w'as  a  decided  conviction  that  it  was  his 
dutj^  to  return  to  the  communion  of  the  Church  of  his  fathers. 

So  soon  as  this  determination  was  formed  he  severed  his  con- 
nection wdth  the  Methodists.  Very  happily  his  change  of  \dews 
and  his  determination  to  enter  the  ministry  of  the  Church  did  not 
alienate  from  him  his  Methodist  friends.  They  believed  that  his 
motives  and  i)urposes  were  of  the  most  sincere  and  exalted  char- 
acter. He  had  been  an  exhorter  among  them,  and  uiuler  the 
license  of  their  presiding  elder  had  been  a  probationary  preacher, 
and  they  had  learned  to  apjjreciate  the  man  and  respect  the 
honesty  of  his  convictions  and  actions. 

His  mother  cordially  acquiesced  in  his  determination  to  seek 
admission  into  the  ministry  of  the  Church. 

He  was  not  long  in  putting  himself  in  communication  with  the 
Bishop  of  the  Diocese  and  in  seeking  counsel  with  some  of  the 
clergy,  especially  the  Rev.  Georg-e  McElhiney.  at  that  time  rector 


28  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKXEY. 

of  the  parish  at  Priuoess  Auiie,  in  Somerset  county.  He  was 
iiccordingiy  received  as  a  candidate  for  orders.  After  a  candi- 
dateship  of  six  months,  and  passing  his  examinations,  which  one 
of  his  examiners  pronounced  '•  the  most  satisfactory  that  he  had 
ever  witnessed."  he  was  ordained  to  the  Diaconate  on  Sunday,  the 
12th  of  April.  1835.  in  the  church  at  Cambridge,  Dorchester  county, 
by  the  Rt.  Rev.  "NVm.  M.  Stone.  A  short  time  before  his  ordina- 
tion Somerset  and  Coventry  Parishes  became  vacant  by  the 
removal  of  the  Rector,  the  Rev.  George  McElhiney  to  St.  Anne's 
Parish,  Annapolis — to  these  vacant  parishes  he  was  sent  by  the 
bishop,  and  in  June  following  entered  upon  active  ministerial 
duty  in  the  Diaconate.  being  licensed  by  the  Bishop  to  preach. 
Physicall}'  he  was  not  strong,  never  robust :  though,  as  the  sequel 
of  his  life  proved,  he  had  great  powers  of  endurance  and  of  labor. 
But  at  this  period,  slender  in  person  and  delicate  in  structure, 
lie  seemed  not  equal  in  bodily  strength  to  the  arduous  duties  of 
large  rural  parishes.  And  so  it  proved.  Under  his  labors  and 
the  influence  of  the  climate  his  health  soon  broke  down.  A  serious 
illness  followed.  He  was  compelled  for  a  season  to  give  up  all 
ministerial  work.  He  returned  to  Annapolis  to  recuperate,  and 
remained  there  until  he  was  well  enough  to  think  of  resuming 
his  pastoral  charge.     He  returned  to  it  in  November,  1835. 

The  following  letter  to  his  mother  expresses  his  feelings  and 
<3ondition  at  this  period: 

*'  To  Mrs.  Amelia  Pixkxey,  Annapoliit,  Md. 

"  Pkincess  Anne,  November  28,  183.5. 

"My  Dear  Mother:  I  ueed  not  say  tliat  I  was  delighted  with  your  last 
letter.  It  contaiued  so  much  tenderness  of  feeling  and  maturity  of  judg- 
ment that  cold  would  be  the  heart  and  dull  the  understanding  that  could 
Dot  be  affected  by  such  a  letter. 

'•  H(jwever.  you  very  much  overrate  my  obedience,  Ac.  Somehow  or  other 
it  seems  to  me  that  I  am  constrained  to  act  a  false  part  on  the  stage  of  life. 
I  have  credit  for  a  thousand  virtues  I  do  not  possess,  and  scarcely  any  of  the 
numberless  fi-ailties  and  imperfections.  I  might  say  faults,  that  are  exhibited 
in  my  daily  conduct.  .  I  only  wish  I  better  deserved  the  character  I  bear. 
The  consciousness  that  I  fall  so  far  behind  it  pains  me  much,  and  I  feel  and 
I  trust  it  may  be  blessed  t<j  the  good  of  my  soul.  Enough  of  this — let  us  to 
more  important  business. 

"  I  feel  pretty  well.  I  have  not  been  troubled  with  a  cough  since  I  was  in 
Baltimore,  although  I  am  still  a  little  hoarse.  I  i)reached  on  last  Sunday  in 
the  morning,  although  the  day  was  bad,  in  order  that  I  might  test  my  own 
strength,  and  I  am  happy  to  inform  you  that  I  experienced  no  inconvenience 
from  it.  Indeed,  on  the  whole,  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  probably  I  had 
Letter  remain  during  the  winter,  as  it  would  l)e  almost  impossible  for  the 
vestry  to  secure  any  one  to  take  my  place  until  the  sjjring.  I  believe  I  can 
j^et  along  by  the  exercise  of  a  little  prudence.  If  I  remain  I  shall  not  expose 
myself.  I  will  expect  you  and  my  sister  to  be  as  ])rudcnt  as  I  am.  You  are 
Tight  in  saying  this  is  a  laborious  charge.  I  am  very  kindly  attended  to,  and 
find  the  people,  if  anything,  more  solicitous  about  my  health  than  I  am 
and  willing  in  any  way  to  gratify  my  wishes.     If  your  next  letter  does  not 


LIFE    OF    ]!ISM()1'    I'INKNEY.  21> 

(■li!iu<,'e  my  mintl  I  tbiuk  I  shall  stay.     I  wish  I  could  sjjeud  my  leisure  time 
with  you  and  my  sister — it  is  at  such  times  I  feel  lonely.     Love  to  all. 
"  Your  art'ectionate  sou. 

••  WM.  PINKNEY." 

It  soon  became  evident,  however,  that  he  could  not  ieniiii)i  in 
the  chai-o-e  for  the  winter,  and  he  was  constrained  to  resion  the 
rectorshi])  and  return  to  Annapolis. 

The  followino-  extracts  from  a  letter  of  his  mother  to  one  of  hi« 
Eastern  Shore  friends  very  fully  explains  his  condition  of  health, 
at  the  time  : 

"  After  enteriu<^  ui)ou  the  duties  of  the  ministry  in  Somerset  and  findiuj^ 
himself  among  afl'ectionatt'  iiud  attentive  people,  who  were  satisfied  with  his 
services  and  desirous  to  retain  him.  he  would  not  have  thought  of  removing 
had  not  a  severe  and  protracted  bilious  fever  warned  him  that  his  constitu- 
tion could  not  probably  stand  the  effects  of  the  climate.  From  his  illness 
he  has  but  recently  recovered,  and  its  effects  are  still  visible.  He  labored 
under  st)me  debility  and  a  troublesome  cough  when  he  left  us,  which  was  not 
until  last  week.  I  believe  myself  that  if  he  could  have  been  satisfied  to 
remain  at  home,  his  cure  might  soon  have  been  effected,  but  his  mind  could 
not  be  kept  easy  while  the  people  of  his  charge  were  without  parochial 
instructions  and  services,  and  could  not  feel  at  liberty  to  sup})ly  themselves 
by  choosing  another  minister.  He  left  me,  therefore,  with  a  promise  that 
if  his  health  did  not  improve  and  his  cough  continued,  he  woiUd  give  up 
his  charge  after  the  trial  of  a  few  weeks  and  retiirn  home,  })articularly  iU4 
he  had  determined,  under  the  advice  of  his  i)hysieians  and  friends,  not  to 
contiinie  another  summer  on  the  Eastern  Shore.  *  *  *  j  cannot  close 
withwut  thanking  you  for  your  interest  in  this  sid)ject,  and  without  assuring 
yon  that  it  would  be  a  pleasant  reflection  to  me  to  think  that,  in  the  discharge 
of  the  arduous  and  responsil)le  duties  of  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ, 
my  son  shoi;ld  be  favored  with  so  kind  and  judicious  a  counsellor  as  yourself. " 

This  enforced  rest  and  sojourn  in  Annapolis  during  the  winter, 
while  it  conduced  to  the  restoration  of  his  health,  was  of  immense 
advantage  to  Mr.  Pinkxey  from  the  intimacy  and  close  friendshij) 
which  he  formed  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  George  McElhiney.  the  then 
rector  of  St.  Anne's  parish.  Dr.  ]\IcElhiney  was  a  ripe  scholar,  well 
read  in  all  the  old  English  divines  and  English  literature,  a  strong 
and  able  preacher,  a  decided  clutrchman  of  the  High  Church  school, 
faithful  and  energetic  as  a  pastor,  somewhat  blunt  in  manner,  l)tifc 
full  of  heart-warmth  and  genial  kindness.  The  affectionate  inti- 
macy thus  formed  continued  till  the  sudden  and  early  death  of 
the  rector  of  St.  Anne's  deprived  Pinkney  of  that  valued  friend. 


30  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   PINKNEY. 


CHAPTEK  YI. 

His  Charge  in   Prince  George,  and  Marriage.     1836-'38. 

By  the  early  spring  of  1836  Mr.  Pinkney  had  sufficiently  recov- 
ered bis  health  to  resume  ministerial  duty.  Just  then  there  came 
to  him  the  call  to  the  t\vo  united  parishes.  St.  Matthew's  and  Zion, 
in  Prince  George" s  county.  Before  entering  upon  this  new  field 
of  parochial  duty  he  was  obliged  to  consider,  and,  in  obedience 
to  the  dictates  of  his  conscience,  to  refuse  a  most  tempting  offer 
made  him  at  the  time  to  enter  the  U.  S.  Navy  as  a  chaplain.  A 
friend  of  the  family.  Commodore  Ballard,  was  about  to  sail  with 
his  squadron  to  the  Pacific  coast  of  South  America.  IMi*.  Pink- 
ney's  half  brother,  Mr.  Henry  Hobbs,  had  already  been  engaged 
as  the  Commodore's  private  secretary.  The  Commodore  was 
urgent  that  Mr.  Pixkney  should  apply  to  the  Navy  Dejiartment 
to  be  commissioned  as  chaplain  and  sail  with  him  in  his  ship,  the 
JVofth  (Jarolina.  There  were  many  inducements  for  him  to 
accept  the  position.  A  sea  voyage,  residence  in  a  genial  tropical 
climate,  adec^uate  support,  travel  under  the  protection  of  the  U.  S. 
Government,  the  companionship  of  educated  naval  officers,  opjior- 
tunities  for  study  and  for  the  exercise  of  his  ministerial  offices — 
all  these  conspired  to  render  the  proffered  position  most  advan- 
tageous and  desu'able.  After  well  weighing  the  matter  he  con- 
cluded to  decline  the  offer  and  to  devote  his  life  to  the  work  of 
the  ministry'  in  the  Church  in  his  native  land. 

In  tracing  out  the  incidents  of  this  life  there  come  up  from  its 
beginning  those  frequent  e^■idences  of  self-abnegation  in  all  mat- 
ters tending  to  perscmal  comfort  and  advantage  which  were  so 
conspicuous  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life.  No  tempting  advantages 
of  ease  or  emolument  could  turn  him  aside  from  what  he  regarded 
as  his  high  duty  to  GOD  and  the  Church. 

Declining  this  tempting  offer  of  a  chaplaincy  in  the  Navy,  he 
acce2:)ted  the  charge  of  the  two  parishes  in  Prince  George's  county. 

It  was  with  some  doubt  and  hesitancy  on  the  score  of  health 
that  Mr.  Pinkney  accepted  the  rectorship  of  these  two  parishes. 
Young  in  years,  not  physically  strong,  and  only  recently  ordained 
to  the  priesthood,  and  so  without  much  experience  in  pastoral 
work,  it  could  not  but  occasion  some  anxiety  on  his  part  as  to 
his  ability  to  endure  the  labors  and  meet  the  responsibilities  of 
such  a  charge.  The  same  spirit  of  self-devotion,  however,  Avhich 
had  prompted  him  to  decline  a  position  of  comi^f^'ative  ease  and 
comfort  upheld  him  in  the  resolution  not  to  shrink  from  the  task 
set  before  him,  but  to  give  to  it  the  whole  energies  of  his  soul. 


LIFE    OF    I'.ISHOP    PINKNEY.  31 

He  eutciod  u])Oii  the  tlutifs  of  tlie  rectorsliip  on  tlu'  first  Sim- 
Jay  ill  May,  188(j,  having-  l)e('ii  onlaiiiod  to  the  priesthood  a  short 
time  l)efore,  in  Caml)ridge,  Md.,  l)y  the  Rt.  Rev.  William  Murray 
Stone,  D.  D..  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese. 

It  was,  in  fact,  upon  a  mission-tield  of  very  large  extent  that  Mr. 
PiNKNEV  was  entering.  It  called  for  the  most  active  and  encr 
geti(r  labors.  The  territory  to  which  he  was  to  give  his  pastoral 
care  comprised  a  large  portion  of  the  northern  part  of  Prince 
George's  county  and  of  the  southern  part  of  Montgomery  county. 
It  extended  from  Bhidensburg  northwestwardly  towai'ds  Rock- 
ville  in  the  latter  county  some  sixteen  miles,  northerly  towards 
Mechanicsville  about  the  same  distance,  and  a1)out  the  same  dis- 
tance also  towards  Laurel,  and  thence  southwards  through  Pi'ince 
Georges  for  some  six  or  eight  miles,  or  more,  Ijelow  Bladensl)urg. 
In  all  that  extensive  region  there  Avere  at  the  time  only  the  two 
l)arisli  churches,  St.  Matthew's,  four  miles  Ijelow  Bladensburg,  and 
St.  Marks,  eight  miles  above  Bladensburg,  in  the  opposite  direc- 
tion. There  were  no  pastors  of  the  church  in  the  whole  region  to 
seek  out  the  lost  sheep  and  gather  them  into  the  fold  of  the  Re- 
deemer. The  territory  embraced  within  Prince  George's  did  not 
include  those  richer  portions  of  the  county  which,  for  generations, 
have  l)een  celebrated  for  their  productiveness  and  for  the  wealth 
of  the  inhabitants.  In  some  sections  the  poi^ulaticm  was  sparse, 
and  the  people  for  the  most  part  were  in  moderate  circumstances, 
but  they  were  noted,  as  in  all  tlie  older  agricultural  settlements 
of  Maryland,  for  intelligence,  hospitality,  and  reverent  regard 
for  the  sanctities  and  institutions  of  religion.  It  will  subse(piently 
be  seen  tliat.  besides  the  regular  ministrations  in  his  parish 
churches.  Mi-.  Pinkney  was  wont  to  go  from  time  to  time  into  the 
different  parts  of  this  large  region  to  hold  divme  services  and 
preach  the  Gospel,  sometimes  as  it  might  be  in  school-house,  at 
other  times  in  some  used  or  unused  Methodist  house  of  worship. 

He  was,  as  yet,  unmarried.  Bladensburg,  the  town  situated 
between  the  two  parish  churches,  wjis  to  be  the  place  of  his  res- 
idence. He  found  there  a  rectory,  which  Avas  a  commodious  frame 
building  of  two  stories  with  a  basement.  It  stood  upon  a  lot  of 
three  acres  donated  by  the  Lowndes  family  to  the  two  j)arish 
churches  and  was  within  a  few  rods  of  ••  Blenheim, "  the  family 
residence.  Uj^on  moving  to  Bladensburg  Mr.  Pinkney  made 
arrangements  to  occupy  the  rectory  for  a  sleeping  ajjartment 
and  for  a  stud}^  and  office,  where  he  might  meet  his  piirislii(niers  on 
business  or  for  pastoral  counsels.  The  furniture  needed  was  pro- 
vided by  the  ladies  of  the  parish.  A  servant  was  secured  to  live 
in  the  basement  and  take  care  of  the  property.  Mr.  Pinkney  was 
to  take  his  meals  with  the  Lowndes  family  at  Blenheim.  He  was 
at  all  times  cordially  received  there  as  one  of  its  own  members. 
The  arrangement  was  very  convenient,  for  the  Blenheim  residence 
was  only  a  few  paces  distant  from  the  rectoiy.     It  was  also  most 


32  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   TINKNEY. 

agreeable,  because  there  had  been  long  friendship  and  intimacy 
between  the  Lowndes  family  and  that  of  his  mother.'  Moderate 
in  his  desires  and  simple  in  his  habits,  he  was  easily  satisfied  in^ 
respect  to  domestic  accommodations.  He  found  his  association, 
with  the  Blenheim  family  most  congenial  and  delightful. 
He  writes  to  his  mother  : 

•'  Should  my  life  be  spared  I  hope  to  get  along  in  a  plain,  quiet  way.  If  I 
can  only  do  liiy  work  faithfully  I  shall  be  satisfied.  My  study  is  nicely- 
furnished— a  handsome  study-lamp,  a  circular  table  of  pretty  dimensions- 
in  the  middle  of  the  room,  six  nice  chairs,  a  carpet  in  readiness,  a  rocking- 
chair  to  loll  in  :   I  am  really  very  comfortable." 

The  parish  churches  were  too  far  apart  for  services  in  both  on 
tlie  same  day.  A  second  serAice  was  held  in  the  afternoon  of  one 
Sunday  in  a  very  small  plain  building  in  Bladensburg,  which  had 
been  erected  by  his  predecessor  in  the  parish,  the  Rev.  ISih:  Small- 
wood,  and  afterwards  given  by  him  to  the  parish.  This  room  was 
used  by  Mr.  Pinkney  for  the  sacred  services  until  he  succeeded  in 
building  the  present  church,  St.  Luke's.  In  the  afternoon  of  the 
next  Sunday  he  held  services  at  Vansville,  about  a  mile  distant 
from  Beltsville,  in  a  very  small  building  which  had  been  erected 
for  the  purpose  by  the  family  of  the  late  John  C.  Herbert,  and 
continued  to  be  so  used  until  the  present  church  at  Belts\alle  was 
erected.  On  alternate  Sundays  three  services  were  usually  held. 
During  the  week  cottage  services,  with  lectures,  were  conducted 
in  chfterent  parts  of  the  parishes. 

To  these  duties  in  ministrations,  preachings,  and  lecturing  Mr. 
Pinkney  assiduously  and  energetically  devoted  himself. 

Upon  assuming  the  rectorship  of  these  parishes,  in  1836,  Mr. 
Pinkney  fovmd  both  churches  much  out  of  repau",  and  his  first 
efforts  were  du'ected  towards  leaving  them  put  in  good  condition 
for  the  divine  ser^Hces.  Money  was  not  plentiftil  in  those  days, 
and  it  was  not  easy  to  raise  sums  sufficient  for  church  improve- 
ments and  accommodations  on  the  most  moderate  scale.  The 
Wews  of  both  rector  and  people  were  very  moderate  toiiching 
church  architecture  and  ecclesiastical  arrangements  in  matters  of 
taste  and  adornment.  Many  of  the  rtiral  churches  had  no  robing 
or  vestry-rooms  or  vestibules,  were  without  ba}itismal  fonts,  were 
not  supplied  with  organs,  and  had  only  common  plain  glass  win- 
dows. Very  often  there  would  be  found  a  large  pitlpit,  spacious 
enough  for  several  clergymen,  with  the  reading-desk  and  the  com- 
munion table  attached,  placed  below  and  in  front  of  the  pulpit. 
The  chancel,  in  many  churches,  was  scarcely  large  enough  for  a 
single  officiating  priest.  In  nearly  all  the  country  churches  the 
sur])lice  was  unknown,  the  black  gown  with  the  clerical  bands 
l)eing  the  only  vestment  used.  There  was  no  chanting  of  anthems 
or  canticles,  and  the  singing  was  of  the  plainest  sort,  but  heartily 
joined  iu  by  minister  and  people.     Fifty  years  have  wrought  great 


LIFE    OF    UISHOl'    PINKNKY.  33 

cliaii<;es  ill  all  these  respects.  WDiiilciful  indeed  Ims  Ix-eii  the 
progress  and  development,  as  well  in  the  rural  districts  as  in  the 
cities,  ill  all  matters  of  church  architecture,  of  interior  arran^'e- 
nients  for  comfort  and  beauty,  and  for  the  more  reverential  con- 
duct of  the  divine  services.  Great,  however,  as  have  been  the 
improvements  in  these  respects,  it  may  not  be  doubted  that  the 
worship  rendered  in  those  early  days  of  greater  simi)licity  was  as 
hearty  and  fervent  as  though  attended  with  all  the  accompani- 
ments of  an  ornate  ritual  in  costly  and  highh'-adorned  church 
buildings.  Certainly  there  was  far  less  to  distract  the  attention 
of  the  worshijipers  and  draw  off  the  mind  from  the  deep  spirit- 
uality of  the  prayer-book  and  the  great  truths  of  the  Gosjtel. 

St.  Matthew's  Church,  commcmh'  called  "Addison's  Chapel," 
was  a  substantial  brick  Imildiiig  and  ^\as  soon  put  into  good  and 
servicea))le  condition.  It  was  situated  about  four  miles  south  of 
Bladensburg,  from  which  the  travel  M'as  over  sandy  roads,  then 
much  obstructed  by  rude  gates.  The  other  church,  St.  Mark's, 
which  usually  went  by  the  name  of  "  The  Paint  Chapel,"  not 
1)ecause  it  was  ^;a/»^ef/ — which  it  was  not,  either  on  outside  or 
inside — but  because  located  near  a  small  river  of  that  name,  was 
distant  some  eight  miles  from  Bladensburg :  so  that  the  distance 
between  the  two  churches  was  fully  twelve  miles.  This  latter 
church  stood  within  or  near  the  borders  of  Montgomery  county. 
The  population  in  the  vicinity  M'as  sparse.  "Within  a  radius  of 
several  miles  there  was  scarcely  a  single  family  residence.  But 
small  and  homely  as  it  was  in  its  structure  and  furniture,  it 
served  for  most  faithful  preaching  and  ministrations  to  the  little 
flock  there  assembled.  Mr.  Pinknky  continued  to  minister  in  this 
church  until  the  new  church  at  Beltsville  was  erected,  wht^n  it 
was  abandoned  and  suffered  to  go  to  decay.  It  is  an  interesting 
fact  in  the  history  of  this  church  that  it  was  consecrated  by  the 
Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Doane,  of  New  Jersey,  on  Thursday,  the  28th 
February.  1888,  acting  provisionally  for  the  then  vacant  Diocese 
of  Maryland. 

Wide  was  the  fleld  and  arduous  were  the  labors  that  lay  before 
Mr.  PiNKNEY  in  this  pastoral  charge  of  two  i)arishes  of  such  large 
extent,  wdth  ccmtiguous  territory  outside  their  bounds  unprovided 
with  the  Church  ministrations.  He  entered  upon  his  pastoral 
work  with  great  alacrity  and  zeal. 

His  Marriage.     1838. 

Not  long,  however,  after  his  settlement  in  these  parishes,  there 
came  about  an  important  change  in  his  domestic  relations,  which 
affected  his  whole  after-life,  but  which,  while  it  added  to  his  per- 
sonal happiness,  did  not  in  any  way  impede  the  activity  or  lessen 
the  zeal  of  his  efficient  labors.  It  was  his  marriage,  towiu'ds  the 
close  of  the  second  year  of  his  parochial  ministry,  with  ^Nliss  Eliza- 
beth Lloyd  Lowndes. 


34  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

His  intimacy  and  associations  with  tlie  Lowndes  family  bad 
proved  peculiarly  interesting  and  attractive  to  him.  In  its  genial 
and  retiued  circle  lie  found  refreshment  and  enjoyment  after 
study  and  active  work.  The  father  of  the  family,  Avho  is  described 
as  an  accomplished  gentleman  of  the  old  school,  was  Eicbai'd 
Tasker  Lowndes,  Esq..  the  son  of  Christopher  Lowndes,  who 
came  from  Cheshire  in  England  and  settled  in  Bladensburg.  The 
mother,  who  was  noted  for  her  piety  as  a  noble  Christian  lady, 
was  Mrs.  Anne  Lloyd  Lowndes,  daughter  of  Edward  Lloyd,  who 
was  at  one  time  Territoriid  Governor  of  Maryland. 

The  children  of  the  family  were  two  daughters,  Elizabeth  Lloj^d 
and  Anne  Lloyd,  who  died  m  1850,  and  a  son,  the  youngest,  still 
survi\-ing,*  Benjamin  Ogle  Lowndes — two  sons  having  previ- 
ously died,  one  aged  about  twelve  years — the  other,  a  physician, 
after  reaching  manhood. 

The  landed  estate  of  the  family,  with  its  commodious  mansion, 
"  Blenheim,"  was  located,  as  has  been  said,  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  Bladensburg,  upon  the  elevated  grounds  northeast  of 
the  town,  and  commanded  an  extensive  -^dew  of  the  country  lying 
towards  the  west  and  south. 

Very  soon  the  heart  of  Mr.  Pinkney  was  won  by  the  winning 
graces  and  loving  qualities  of  the  elder  sister,  and  he  felt  that  he 
had  found  the  chosen  one,  to  become  the  future  solace  and  coni- 
23anion  of  his  life.  The  disparity  in  age,  the  lady  being  much 
older  than  himself,  seemed  not  at  all  to  have  entered  into  his 
"sdews  as  in  any  way  calculated  to  lessen  the  fulness  and  happiness 
of  his  wedded  life.  His  ardent  affection  was  reciprocated  by  the 
lady,  and  on  the  2d  of  October,  1838,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
EHzabeth  Lloyd  Lowndes.  For  nearly  forty  years,  till  death 
severed  the  sacred  tie  that  bound  him  to  his  beloved  partner,  it 
was  a  happy  married  hfe,  unmarred  by  a  single  incident  or  instance 
to  interrupt  its  peaceful  felicity.  Nothing  could  exceed  the 
delicacy  and  the  tenderness  of  his  wife's  devotion  to  the  comfort 
and  happiness  of  her  husband.  Bright,  cheerful,  of  a  peculiarly 
sweet  disposition,  and  possessed  of  manners  most  winning  and 
refined,  she  threw  an  exquisite  charm  for  her  life  long  around  his 
hearth  of  home. 

Two  other  attachments  had  been  previously  formed  by  Mr. 
Pinkney,  the  one  in  early  life,  Avhile  yet  a  student  of  theology,  the 
other  later,  when  he  had  entered  upcm  his  ministry :  but  in  both 
cases  circumstances  arose  which  led,  by  a  mutual  consent,  to  the 
severance  of  the  engagements.  As  the  parties  subsequently 
manied,  it  is  believed  that  there  was  nothing  to  mar  the  pleasant- 
ness of  their  future  relations.  So  warm  and  tender  were  Mr. 
Pinkney's  affections  that  he  could  not  live  without  those  associa- 


*  1890. 


LIFE    OF    BIRHOr    I'INKNEY.  35 

"tious  and  ties  in  maiTioil  life  wliicli  a  loviiio-  Jioirt  iniist   liud   aiid 
luust  have  for  its  consolation  and  liai)piness. 

"While  he  had  been  left  entirely  untrannnelled  by  his  revered 
mother  as  to  all  matters  touchiii<^-  affairs  of  the  heart  and  of  a 
mfU'riage  union,  it  was  gratif  jang  to  him  to  know  that  his  proposed 
and  at'tiial  marriage  with  Miss  Lowndes  met  her  most  cordial 
api)roval  and  received  her  maternal  congratulations.  Beyond  an 
■early  counsel  given  to  him  when  he  was  yet  a  student  of  divinity, 
not  to  entangle  himself  with  any  affections  or  engagements  that 
would  involve  distractions  from  study  or  cause  future  eml)arrass- 
ment,  she  had  in  no  way  interposed.  Her  counsel  to  him  at  that 
time  is  worthy  of  record  : 

"  I  cannot  retViiin  from  saying  that  it  is  gratifying  to  nio  that  yovi  will  enter 
the  course  you  havt^  adopted  free.  Yon  have  it  in  yoiir  power  to  guard 
against  any  attachments  calculated  to  draw  your  attention  from  that  holy 
vocation  to  which  yovi  have  devoted  yourself.  It  nuist  always  be  painful  to 
a  man  of  your  feelings  to  have  the  happiness  of  any  one  in  his  keeping  until 
he  hiLS  it  in  his  power  to  watch  over  it  personally  and  constantly." 

A\Tiatever  in  the  years  following  maj'  have  been  his  heart  expe- 
riences touching  matters  so  delicate  and  so  peculiarly  sacred  to 
one's  self,  his  heart's  love  and  his  life's  union  in  holy  matrimony 
were  now  settled. 

His  mother  accordingly  wrote  : 

'■  I  congratulate  you,  my  dear  son,  in  y(^ur  prospects  of  conjugal  felicity. 
May  Heaven's  rich  blessings  rest  upon  you  and  your  better-half." 

And  immediately  afterwards  she  wrote  to  his  wife  in  terms  full 
of  cordiality  and  affection,  and  in  anticipation  of  much  pleasure 
from  their  projDosed  visit  to  Annapolis. 

To  these  letters  he  replied : 

*'•  To  Mrs.  Amelia  Pinkney,  AnnapoliH. 

'"  Bladensburg,  October  U;.  ls:W. 

"My  Dear  Mother  :  Yotir  kind  and  affectionate  letter  was  read  with  much 
interest  liy  myself  and  my  dear  wife.  I  can  assure  you  that  your  tender  re- 
gard and  solicitiide  for  the  partner  of  my  joys,  so  feelingly  and  beautifully 
expressed,  will  always  be  remembered  with  tilial  gratitude,  and  cherished 
among  the  thousand  exhibitions  of  the  excellence  of  the  mother  on  whose 
bosom  I  was  pillowed  in  infancy.  Ytni  will  love  each  other,  I  am  satistied. 
more  and  more  as  the  moral  and  intellectiial  beauties  of  your  characters  are 
more  intimately  developed.  As  soon  as  it  is  possiljle  I  will  i)ay  my  Inug. 
expected  and  long-delayed  but  ardently  desired  visit.* 

"  We  are  in  hopes  of  getting  everything  ready  for  lK)Usekeeping  in  the 
«o\irse  of  a  few  weeks.  I  feel  very  anxious  about  it,  for  cold  weather  is 
coming  upon  us  very  rapidly,  and  there  is  a  strong  natural  (h'sire  in  us  all 
to  be  prepared  to  give  it  welcome.  A  comfortable  house,  neat  furniture, 
good  wood,  and  a  plain  fare  is  the  sum  of  my  earthly  desires.  As  soon  a.s 
our  furniture  is  pixrchased  and  arranged  we  will  give  you  a  very  flourishing 
description  of  our  sweet  little  residence. 


*  At  that  time  and  up  to  1840,  there  was  no  railroad  communication  with 
Annapolis,  and  his  occasional  visits  to  his  mother  were  made  on  horseljack — 
the  distance  being  nearly  forty  miles. 


36  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

'■  My  plaus  for  the  improvement  of  my  mind  are  very  much  enlarged  since 
my  marriage.  I  always  desired  to  be  usefvil.  and  I  trust  that  my  desires 
were  not  nugatory  anil  void,  but  now  they  are  much  more  grand  and  com- 
prehensive. I  intend  to  labor  .with  iiuprecedented  zeal,  and  by  God's  grace 
I  contidently  ex])ect  to  be  blessed  in  my  efforts.  You  see  I  am  full  of  hopes 
and  bright  anticipations.  Now,  my  dear  mother,  I  am  not  Tinmindfiil  that 
these  noble  resolves  will  be  weak  without  a  spirit  of  meek  dependence  upon 
the  si)irit  of  grace.  I  hope,  therefore,  that  I  shall  always  be  kept  in  a  spirit 
of  prayer,  that  my  zeal  nuiy  be  increased,  my  love  augmented,  and  that  my 
dear  wife  and  myself  may  be  aids  to  each  other  in  rcUgiun  as  well  as  in 
things  of  time.  Love  to  my  sister,  love  to  Amelia  Gwinn  when  you  write  to 
her. 

'•  Your  afl'ectionate  son, 

"WM.  PINKNEY." 

After  his  marriage  it  was  arranged  for  liim  and  his  wife  to 
oecuiiy  the  rectory  near  by  for  theii-  residence,  and  as  soon  as  it 
was  fitted  \x\)  they  moved  into  it.  The  furniture  was  simple  and 
plain.  The  Blenheim  family  was  thus  divided  into  two  families  ; 
but,  closely  contiguous  in  location,  continued  one^  and  so  united  in 
mutital  love  and  intercoiu'se  that  we  may  regard  it  as  one. 

At  this  period  occurred  also  the  marriage  of  his  younger 
brother,  Dr.  Nmian  Pmkuey,  of  the  U.  S.  Navy,  to  Miss  Mary 
8.  Haml)leton.  daughter  of  Edward  N.  Haml)leton,  and  sister 
of  the  Hon.  Samuel  Hambleton,  of  Talbot  county,  Md.  For 
that  brother,  as  has  been  said,  Mr.  William  Pinkney  felt  an 
extraordinary  affection  and  an  almost  unbounded  admii'ation, 
and  deservedly  so,  for  in  talents,  in  noble  qualities  of  heart,  and 
in  pre-eminence  in  his  profession.  Surgeon  Ninian  Pinkney 
merited  both  the  affection  and  the  admiration.  As  a  surgeon, 
he  had  already  attained,  at  the  time  of  his  marriage,  distinction 
in  the  Xavj^  and  continued  ever  afterwards  to  advance  in  reinita- 
tion  until,  under  the  law  of  Congress,  he  was  placed,  at  the 
age  of  62  years,  ui)on  the  retired  list.  After  his  retirement  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  life  on  the  estate  near  Easton,  Md., 
where  he  had  erected  "  a  noble  granite  mansion,"  and  was  accus- 
tomed to  dispense  his  genial  h()S2:)itality. 

This  marriage  of  his  brother  Ninian  was  almost  simultaneous 
with  his  own,  having  preceded  it  by  only  a  few  months,  and  drew 
from  him  one  of  those  delightful  congratulatory  letters  to  the 
bride  that  he  was  so  hapjiy  ia  inditing.  The  mother,  thus 
fuvoied  in  seeing  both  of  her  sons  hapjoily  married,  was  spared, 
tliough  always  in  feeble  health,  to  a  venerable  age,  and  was 
privileged  to  rejoice  in  theii'  noble  and  honorable  careers  of 
usefulness  in  their  respective  professions,  and  to  receive  from 
them  the  unfailing  tokens  of  their  filial  devotion. 

It  may  be  here  added  that  this  brother  died  in  1877,  in  the 
(i7th  year  of  his  age,  leaving  the  widow  with  an  only  child,  a 
daughter,  both  now  resident  in  Annapolis,  Md. 


LIFE    OF    JJISHOP    I'INKNEY.  37 


CHAPTER  YII. 

Ministry  in  Prince  George's  County — Erection  of  Churches  at  Ulauenh- 
BURG  AND  Beltsville.     1H38-'4(). 

The  iiicidents  and  experiences  of  a  country  pastor's  life  are  not 
usnally  im})ortant  or  interesting  enoii<^'li  to  c^all  for  specitie  i-ecord. 
They  make  up  a  routine  Avliich,  from  year  to  year,  is  almost  the 
same — varied,  as  all  life  is,  by  circumstances  that  stir  our  grati- 
tude for  mercies  and  blessings  received  and  call  for  patience  and 
submissi(m  under  trials  to  be  borne.  So  the  years  roll  on  with- 
out any  marked  changes.  The  study,  the  home,  the  parish,  the 
welfare  of  the  Church  at  large  become  in  their  due  ])roporti(^n 
and  relations  the  all-engrossing  objects  of  a  life  that  has  for  its 
su])reme  and  ultimate  piirpose  the  highest  and  noblest  ends  to 
-which  human  effort  can  be  devoted. 

So  it  was  iu  Mr.  Pinkney's  experience  during  his  long  })astorate 
in  Prince  George's  county. 

The  improvement  of  his  health  and  the  felicity  of  his  domestic 
relations  enabled  him  to  engage  in  a  series  of  ministerial  labors, 
within  and  beyond  the  bounds  of  his  i)arishes,  that  for  twenty 
years  were  marked  with  great  efficiency  and  with  unusual  evi- 
dences of  good  and  blessing  to  his  people.  It  became,  in  fact, 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  pastoral  lives  that  the  writer,  who  had 
frequent  and  close  opportunities  of  seing  it,  has  ever  knt)wn.  Its 
minute  details  need  not  be  entered  into  or  described,  although, 
for  faithful  labors  and  noble  devotion  to  duty  for  so  many  years, 
it  would  deserve  such  record  and  furnish  a  happy  illustration  of 
the  closeness  and  sacredness  of  that  pastoral  tie  which  existed 
between  himself  and  his  people — a  tie  in  these  days  too  often  of 
short  duration,  and  sometimes  j^ainfully  severed  in  consequence 
of  contests  between  rectors  and  vestries  of  congregations. 

During  his  whole  ministerial  life,  as  a  rector  for  more  than  fifty 
years,  he  never  had  a  single  instance  of  troul)lc  or  difficulty  with 
his  vestries  or  parishioners. 

At  any  time  during  this  long  period  one  might  have  gone  to 
him  in  his  study  to  there  find  him  with  pen  in  hand  for  letter, 
essay,  or  sermon,  or  else  absoi'bed  in  study  over  some  book  for 
his  greater  fitness  in  dispensing  the  Divine  "NVcn-d  l)y  preaching, 
or  for  wise  coiuiselling  to  those  seeking  spiritual  help  and  guid- 
ance ;  or,  have  seen  him  bright,  cheerful,  and  lia})py  in  the  family 
circle,  with  its  sim])le  fare  and  sweet  content ;  or  have  gone  foi'th 
to  foUow  him  in  his  daily  goings-forth  alone  and  on  his  favorite 


38  .  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    TINKNEY. 

liorse  to  seek  out  the  members  of  his  flock  one  by  one  and  give  to 
both  sick  and  needy  counsel  and  help,  and,  if  occasion  requii-ed, 
as  was  not  infrequently  the  case,  to  stay  and  be  the  nurse  through 
the  night  hours.  Nor  could  one  find  a  house  or  a  hovel  in  that 
wide  range  of  country  where  he  was  not  wont  to  go  in  minister- 
ing offices.  Even  outside  of  his  own  parishes  would  he  go  to 
hold,  in  some  out-of-the-way  school-house,  services  for  those  else 
unprovided  with  the  Gospel  ministrations — rides  which  sometimes 
took  him  long  distances  from  his  home.  He  soon  penetrated  all 
parts  of  his  parishes  and  became  acquainted  personally  with  all 
his  parishioners  and  with  those  who  were  not  strictly  of  his  own 
congregations.  At  this  time  and  throughout  the  whole  period  of 
his  country  charges  he  travelled  altogether  on  horseback,  equipped 
with  his  saddle-bags,  as  was  the  custom,  born  of  necessity,  among 
the  early  Methodist  preachers. 

Long  years  afterwards  when  Dr.  Pinkney  had  become  the  ven- 
erated Bishop  of  Maryland,  and  when  he  was  presiding  at  the 
centennial  commemoration  of  the  oi'ganization  of  the  Diocese  held 
in  Baltimore  in  1883,  only  one  short  month  before  his  sudden 
decease,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  H.  Hall,  of  Brooklyn,  Long  Island, 
one  of  the  speakers  on  the  occasion,  thus  referred  to  this  pastoral 
life  of  the  Bishop,  while  rector  of  those  parishes  in  Prince  George's 
county : 

"  While  I  was  a  rector  iu  Washington,  I  never  went  into  a  farm  house  or 
a  hut  in  any  part  of  Prince  George's  covinty  without  finding  a  certain  pho- 
tograph, and  when  asking  the  father  or  mother  '  Whose  picture  was  that?  ' 
a  well  of  gratitude  arose,  and  expressions  of  affection  were  uttered  that 
taught  me  what  it  was  to  be  a  faithful  clergyman  of  the  Chiircjh,  and  how 
grand  was  the  work  of  the  man,*  who.  for  twenty  years  before  he  became  a 
rector  in  Washington,  had  been  the  servant  of  four  parishes, t  in  that  county 
which  required  a  railroad  speed  of  voice  and  an  exhaustless  mine  of  energy 
to  begin  to  visit  and  to  serve." 

One  might  have  gone  at  any  time  within  the  last  fifty  years 
into  ajaj  family  that  had  been  under  his  pastoral  care,  and  he 
would  have  foimd  that  the  memory  of  the  beloved  Pinkney  was. 
as  fresh  as  a  fragrant  ointment  in  that  homestead. 

The  following  extracts  from  a  letter  to  his  sister,  who  was  on 
a  visit  to  Baltimore,  in  April,  1840,  shows  how  constantly  he  was. 
engaged  in  his  ministerial  work  : 

"  To  Miss  Amelia  Pinkney. 

"  Bladensbcrg,  April  20,  1840. 
"  My  Deab  Sisteu  :  I  did  not  receive  j'our  welcome  letter  until  late  on 
Saturday,  and  would  have  replied  to  it  without  a  moment's  delay  if  I  had  not 

*  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Pinkney  presiding  on  this  occasion  as  Bishop  of  the  Dio- 
cese. 

t  7Vf>  j)arishes  with  fvti?'  churches. 


LIFE    OF    BISIIOI-    riNKNEV.  39 

l)fi-ii  cuiuix'llid  to  ridi'  nine  niilcs  in  tlic  cKUiitiy  to  visit  a  siok  parishioner. 
I  started  at  nine  o'clock  at  nij^'lit  and  r«'a<'licd  tln-rf  past  cli-vcn,  and  did  not 
f^ct  to  Ix'd  till  after  one.  Y»'sti'rday  I  had  a  very  fati^'uinj^  day-  rode  seven- 
teen miles  and  preached  two  sermons,  administered  the  Holy  Communion 
and  delivered  an  exhortation.  So  that  y<m  will  i)erceive  that  I  have  not 
ne<{lccted  you  vohrutarily.  To-day  I  have  a  long  ride  to  take  and  a  Uibh' 
Class  to  meet.  Three  days  last  week  I  was  preaching  in  Georgetown  at  an 
association,  and  to-morrow  it  is  likely  I  shall  return.  There  was  a  very  en- 
couraging state  of  feeling  in  the  congregation  pnjduced  thrtjugh  the  aid  of 
the  Spirit  by  the  simijle  preaching  of  the  cross. 

"  I  was  glad  to  hear  that  the  pieces  I  wrote  were  well  received.  I  did  not 
anticipate  a  very  favoi'able  impression  because  I  knew  that  they  jjossessed 
no  great  merit.  They  were  favorably  noticed  in  a  hotter  to  the  editor  (jf  a 
Soixthern  paper.     *     *     * 

"  It  was  to  me  an  interesting  thought  that  on  my  birthday  (the  17th)  the 
church  was  commemorating  the  most  solemn  and  awful  mystery  of  our 
blessed  religion.  God  grant  that  I  may  feel  as  much  gratitude  as  I  ought  tor 
the  consolatory  hope  which  that  mystery  authorizes  every  humble  and  peni- 
tent sinner  to  indulge.  I  suppose  you  hear  many  tine  sermons.  Dr.  Wyatt, 
it  is  reported,  has  excelled  himself  in  the  last  few  months. 
"  Your  afl'ectionate  brother, 

•' WM.  PINKNEY." 

Next  to  the  repairing  and  improvement  of  Lis  two  i)arisli 
c'liurcLes  and  his  own  well  arranged  system  of  study  and  pjistoral 
work,  Mr.  Pixkney's  special  attention  was  given  to  the  erection  of 
two  new  church  buildings,  one  at  Bladensl)urg  and  one  at  Belts- 
ville.  He  early  felt  the  importance  of  having  a  church  at  both 
jilaces.  The  people  of  Bladensburg,  with  some  exceptions,  could 
not  attend  the  parish  church,  St.  Matthew's,  and  could  only  be 
reached  by  having  church  ministrations  in  the  town  ;  and  as 
respects  BeltsWlle,  it  was  there  and  in  its  immediate  vicinity  that 
the  greater  part  of  the  parishioners  of  St.  Mark's  resided,  and  the 
church  was  too  remote  and  too  isolated  in  its  location  for  them 
to  conveniently  or  regularly  attend.  The  initial  steps  in  these 
works  Avere  soon  taken,  but  it  was  not  until  after  the  lapse  of 
several  years  that  they  were  fully  completed  and  so  entirely  paid 
for  as  to  be  ready  for  ctmsecration.  His  parisliioners,  generally, 
were  not  wealthy ;  very  many  of  them,  indeed,  were  in  humble 
cu'cumstances  ;  and  it  was  no  light  matter  at  that  period  to  raise 
funds  for  church  building  in  the  rural  districts. 

Although  the  consecration  of  these  two  churches  took  place 
somewhat' later,  a  brief  account  of  the  circumstances  may  be  here 
given. 

The  church  at  Bladensburg,  St.  Luke's,  was  consecrated  l)y  the 
Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Whittingham,  on  Tuesday,  August  2(5, 1850.  The 
occasion  was  one  of  peculiar  interest.  In  a  letter  of  his  wife  to 
Mr.  Pinkney's  mother,  she  gives  some  account  of  the  services  : 

"  Last  Tuesday  the  church  in  Bladensburg  was  consecrated.  You  know 
the  Eishoi)  will  not  consecrate  while  there  is  a  shadow  of  a  debt  on  the 
church.      Well:   it   was   a  proud   day   for  Bladensburg.      I  went    early,  but 


40  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

found  it  difficult  to  get  a  seat,  though  I  learued  afterwards  that  one  had  been 
reserved  for  me.  Long  before  the  time  for  the  Bishop  and  the  Rev.  clergy 
to  enter  every  avenue  seemed  filled  up — pews,  aisles,  vestry  room — and  still 
they  came.  Then  entered  the  Bishop  and  nine  clergymen.  William  pre- 
sented twenty  candidates  for  contirnuitiou,  and  there  were  more  than  a 
huntb-ed  communicants." 

Bishoj)  "NMiittingham.  in  his  adch'ess  to  the  convention,  speaking 
of  this  %-isitation  and  the  consecration,  says :  * 

'•  Never  before  had  I  seen  or  heard  of  what  took  place  on  that  occasion — 
the  approach  to  the  table  of  the  Lord  of  a  number  of  communicants,  greater 
than  the  house  would  seat,  so  that  in  the  offertory,  the  collectors  of  alms 
were  coniiielled  to  go  without  the  walls  to  make  their  round  among  the 
standing  crowd  of  silent  jind  reverent  worshippers.  After  this  proof  of  the 
interest  in  this  parish,  called  forth  by  the  solemnization  of  the  completion 
of  their  faithful,  self-denying,  untiring  rector's  enterprise.  I  cannot  wonder 
at  being  informed,  as  I  have  been  recently,  that  since  that  day  the  parish- 
ioners of  our  brother  have  enabled  him  to  begin  and  nearly  finish  another 
church  in  a  neighborhood  within  his  charge  that  sorely  wanted  it.  Over- 
worked as  he  is,  with  three  already  to  supply,  I  am  sure  there  will  be  no 
lack  of  service  in  the  fourth,  if  ability  be  granted  him  commensurate  with 
the  willingness  in  him." 

It  was  to  the  new  church  at  Beltsville,  then  in  process  of 
erection,  St.  John's,  in  Zion  parish  (to  take  the  place  of  St.  Mark's, 
that  was  to  be  given  up),  that  Bishop  "Whittingham  referred.  It 
was  comjileted  and  consecrated  in  1857,  before  Dr.  Pinkney's 
resignation  to  take  charge  of  the  Parish  of  the  Ascension,  in 
"Washington  city.  In  his  parochial  report  to  the  Bishop  for  that 
year,  he  says  : 

'•With  the  most  jiraiseworthy  zeal  and  enlarged  liberality  a  handful  of 
churchmen  have  in  the  course  of  erection,  under  the  superintendence  of  an 
experienced  architect  of  Baltimore,  a  handsome  church  edifice  near  Belts- 
ville, to  which  is  attached  a  cemetery ;  all  neatly  and  substantially  fenced 
in.  The  building,  which  we  supposed  would  cost  i|l,500.  and  so  reported  to 
a  late  conventitm.  will  cost  (together  with  the  enclosures)  #2,300,  or  tliere- 
aVjouts.  It  will  be  finished  by  the  first  of  June,  and  be  ready  for  consecra- 
tion, at  the  Bishop's  convenience,  about  the  middle  of  that  month.  The 
building  will  be  free  from  all  incumbrances,  and  insured.  This  is  truly  a 
great  work,  if  we  take  into  consideration  the  number  and  ability  of  those 
who  have  conducted  the  enterprise  to  so  blessed  a  consummation.  And 
when  we  remem1)er  that  it  is  the  fruit  of  a  small  gathering  for  the  public 
instruction  of  the  lambs  of  the  parish,  we  may  hope  that  under  GOD  it  is 
the  first  fruits  of  a  harvest,  yet  to  be  gathered  in,  of  glory  to  GOD  in  the 
highest  and  gcjod  to  men." 

The  Bishop  refers  to  the  consecration  as  follows  : 

"On  Thursday,  the  6th  of  August,  St.  John's  Church.  Beltsville,  with  the 
burial-ground  adjoining,  were  consecrated  with  the  presence  and  assistance 
of  a  large  assemblage  of  the  clergy  and  laity,  rejoicing  together  with  the 
rector  and  his  parishioners  in  the  occupation  (^f  this  new  ground  under  cir- 
cumstances of  much  promise  for  the  future." 


*  Con.  Journal.  lHr,7,  j).  '28. 


LIFE    OF    lUSllol-    I'INKNKV.  41 

Tlie  Bishop  preuclu'd  from  the  text.  Psjihu  1:52,  S,  '.> :  "Arise, 
(),  LORD,  into  Thy  rest :  Thou  ami  the  nrk  of  Thy  streii^dh. 
Let  Thy  priests  be  ('h)the(l  witli  righteousness,  uiid  h't  Thy  saints 
shout  for  joy."  Seventeen  persons  were  confirmed,  and  as  many 
as  sixteen  clergymen,  besides  the  rector,  were  })resent  on  tlie 
occasion. 

Dr.  PiNKNEY,  having  soon  after  accepted  the  rectoishi])  of  the 
Church  of  the  Ascension,  refers,  in  his  parochial  report  of  the 
next  year,  to  this  clnu-ch  at  Beltsville  and  to  the  severance  of  the 
pastoral  ties  that  had  so  long  bound  him  to  his  Prince  George's 
parishes  : 

'*  Since  my  last  report  the  cliiirch  at  Beltsville  has  been  completed,  paid 
for.  iind  consecrated.  It  is  a  monument  worthy  of  the  zeal  of  the  little  band 
who  toiled  on,  amid  discourai^emeut  and  difficulty,  until  the  topmost  stone 
was  placed  upon  it :  and  we  hope  soon  to  hear  of  its  enlarj^ement.  My  min- 
istry in  this  beloved  field  of  official  duty,  where  twenty-one  years  and  a  half 
of  my  life  >T;lided  by  so  swiftly  and  so  happily,  was  brouf^ht  to  a  close  on  the 
11th  of  October  last.  The  severance  of  the  ties  cost  me  more  than  I  can 
express,  and  now,  that  I  may  no  lonj^er  lead  the  lambs  and  sheep  of  these 
precious  folds  by  the  green  pastures  of  Zion,  I  can  rejoice  that  my  loss  is 
their  rich  gain,  for  already  the  jiurishcs  are  dixidcd,  and  two  cffii-iciit.  zealous, 
and  able  ministers  are  called  to  cultivate  the  field  1  coiild  not  half  till.  No 
more  will  a  weekly  famine  of  the  word  and  sacraments  be  proclaimed :  but 
on  every  Lord's  Day  the  sacrifices  of  prayer  and  praise  will  be  oflered  up 
from  each  altar.  A  grateful  recollection  of  the  many  kind  deeds  I  experi- 
enced during  all  that  long  ministry  will  follow  me  through  life.  My  heart's 
desire  is  for  their  growth,  jirosperity,  and  happiness." 

The  subsecjuent  history  of  this  church  is  so  interesting  and  of 
so  marked  a  character  as  to  call  for  special  record.  For  ten  years 
after  its  erection  vmder  Dr.  Pinkney  it  had  stood  and  been  open 
for  the  sacred  services  of  the  sanctuary,  when  suddeidy.  on  the 
morning  of  Good  Friday,  18(57,  it  was  destroyed  by  tire.  The 
then  rector  of  the  church,  the  Rev.  J.  Earnest,  gives  the  followmg 
account  of  the  conflagration  : 

"  On  Good  Friday  last,  our  neat  and  c(miely  House  of  Worship  (St.  John's, 
Beltsville),  which  was  erected  but  a  few  years  since  by  the  vestry  of  Zion 
parish,  then  in  charge  of  Rev.  Dr.  Pinknky,  was  suddenly  destroyed  by  fire. 
This  sad  occurrence  took  place  while  the  congregation  were  assembling  for 
worship  on  this  holy  day.  The  fire  was  the  result  of  accident  and  not  of 
design.  Although  aid  was  speedily  at  hand,  yet  no  eifort  could  arrest  the 
progr(>ss  of  the  fiames.  In  less  than  an  hour  the  beautiful  little  edifice  was 
in  ashes.  By  dint  of  great  exertion,  amidst  smoke  and  fiames,  the  gentlemen 
I)resent  succeeded  in  saving  all  the  furniture,  including  the  organ.  The  loss 
falls  heavily  upon  a  small  and  by  no  means  wealthy  congregation.  With  com- 
mendable zeal  and  energy  they  are  making  an  effort  to  repair  their  loss  with 
as  little  delay  as  possible".  After  doing  what  they  can  for  themselves  within 
the  ])arish,  they  will,  however,  be  cinnpcUed  to  seek  aid  beyond  it,  and  they 
are  confident,  from  the  sympathy  so  widely  nniuifested  for  them  in  their 
trouble,  that  their  appeal  will  not  be  in  vain.  '  May  GOD,  even  our  GOD, 
give  us  His  blessing.'  " 


42  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

Unfortunately  there  was  no  insurance  on  the  building.  With 
commendahle  zeal  and  energy  efforts  were  made  by  the  congre- 
gation to  rei)au-  theii'  loss  with  as  little  delay  as  jjossible. 

A  Second  church,  on  the  same  spot,  w'as  soon  erected  by  the 
united  energies  of  the  few,  but  not  disheartened,  members.  This 
building  was  insured  against  ^fire^  but  could  not  be  against  the 
iri/u/s  of  heareii,  and  under  a  mysterious  providence,  on  July  4, 
1874:.  it  was  levelled  to  the  ground  by  a  violent  tornado.  To  add 
to  the  distress  of  the  congregation  there  was  a  considerable 
mortgage  on  the  building,  and  nothing  could  be  done  towards 
rebuilding  until  the  claim  had  been  met.  Nothing  daunted,  these 
sorely-tried  and  faithful  church  people  went  to  work  to  rebuild 
on  the  same  spot. 

For  this  third  church  Bishop  Pinkney  laid  the  corner-stone,  on 
the  20th  of  July,  1877,  and  the  building  was  comjjleted  the  next 
year. 

As  the  traveller  passes  along  on  the  great  railroad  thoroughfare 
between  the  Capital  of  the  Nation  and  the  city  of  Baltimore,  he 
will  see  upon  the  heights  to  the  west  of  Beltsville  a  beautiful 
brick  church  with  its  cemetery  and  surrounding  shrubbery  and 
evergreens.  It  stands  as  a  watness  and  a  memorial  of  the  unfailing 
faith  and  enduring  courage  of  the  parishioners,  who  had  been 
taught  and  trained  under  the  loving  care  and  pastoral  guidance 
of  Dr.  Pinkney.  About  six  months  before  his  sudden  decease 
Bishop  Pinkney  had  the  satisfaction  of  consecrating  the  chiu'ch 
to  the  worship  of  Almighty  GOD. 

In  his  last  address  to  the  convention  he  spoke  of  it  as  •'  a  grand 
work  ;  no  debt  on  the  church  and  nothing  due  to  any  one.  I  had 
laid  the  foundation  of  the  first  tem})le  and  served  it  for  some 
years,  the  child  of  my  first  love." 

By  the  gift  of  one  of  the  communicants  of  the  church  a  beautiful 
triple  window  of  stained  glass  has  been  placed  in  the  chancel  in 
memory  of  Bishop  Pinkney. 

To  complete  this  narrative  it  may  be  added  that  a  rectory,  Avith 
one  and  a  half  acres  of  land  attached,  has  been  built,  the  estimated 
value  of  which  is  $2,500.  Ui^on  the  erection  of  the  church  at 
Beltsville  the  old  parish  church,  St.  Mark's — "•  The  Paint '"  —was 
abandoned.  It  had  become  dilapidated,  and  the  location  did  not 
justify  its  reconstruction.  But,  w'hile  the  new  church  at  Belts- 
\ille  met  the  w^ants  of  the  people  living  in  the  southeast  portion 
of  the  parish,  those  living  in  the  northwest  portion,  near  Coles- 
ville,  Montgomery  county,  were  for  a  long  time  without  church 
accommodations.  Their  gi-eat  want  was  hai)i)ily  met  afterwards 
by  the  zealous  efforts  of  that  indefatigaljle  lal^orer  in  the  ministry, 
the  Kev.  J.  B.  Avirett,  rector  of  the  Silver  Spring  parish,  in  the 
same  cf>unty.  He  secui'ed  a  desirable  lot  for  a  church  and  burial- 
gi'ound,  near  Colesville,  and  was  able  in  due  time  to  report  the 


LIFE    OF    lUSlIOl'    I'INKNEY.  43. 

coinpletiou  of  a  buildiuf^-  to  be  culled  "St.  Mark's  Memorial 
Chapel,"  it  beiuy  the  tliird  chapel  whieli  this  faithful  worker  built 
in  connection  with  Silver  Sprin'^  jiarish. 

At  the  beginning-  of  Mr.  Pinkney's  i)astorate  in  Pruice  Geor^'c's 
county  (188G),  and  for  a  number  of  years  later,  there  was  no  church 
at  Mechanicsville,*  M<)nt<4<)mery  county ;  none  at  Laurehf  and 
none  at  Beltsville4  in  Prince  George's  county  :  none  at  Silver 
Spring-,?  and  no  chapels  at  Colesville,  Norwood,  and  Norbeck,  ||  in 
Montgomery  county. 

Over  this  entire  region,  partly  within  and  contiguous  to  his 
parishes,  Mr.  Pinkney  was  wont  to  go  from  time  to  time  in  minis- 
tering offices.  They  were  the  waste  2)laces  then  unoccupied  by 
the  Church.  They  are  now  tilled  with  flouiishing  churches  and 
chapels.  Though  not  personally  engaged  in  founding  and  organ- 
izing- them,  Mr.  Pinkney  was  the  early  jjioneer  who  went  forth 
to  prepare  the  way  for  the  laborers,  who  were  afterwards  to  come 
to  build  them  and  gather  the  people  into  the  fold  of  the  Church. 

The  work  of  the  clergy,  especially  in  the  country  settlements, 
was  far  less  concentrated  and  much  more  extended  at  the  time  of 
Mr.  Pinkney's  ordinaticm — more  than  fifty  years  ago — than  it  is 
at  the  present  time.  When  he  was  ordained,  and  for  some  years 
later,  there  were  only  about  forty-eight  clergymen  in  the  whole 
Diocese,  comprising,  as  it  then  did.  both  the  Eastern  and  the 
Western  Shores,  and  including,  as  it  now  does,  the  District  of 
Columbia.  Since  then  so  great  and  ra})id  has  been  the  progress 
of  the  Church  that  many  parishes  have  been  divided  and  subdi- 
vided, and  many  separate  congregations  have  been  organized. 
There  are  now  (1888)  within  the  geographical  limits  of  Maryland, 
including-  the  Eastern  Shore  (Easton)  and  the  Western  Shore  and 
the  District  of  Columbia,  no  less  than  two  hundred  and  four 
clergymen,  with  the  Bishops  included. 

An  earnest  worker  of  the  Church,  therefore,  at  that  early  period, 
feeling  the  immeasurable  interests  involved  in  the  sacred  steward- 
ship of  his  ministry,  sought  to  give  full  proof  of  that  ministry  by 
extending  his  labors  as  far  as  possible.  The  Church  of  the  pres- 
ent day  cannot  easily  measure  her  indebtedness  to  those  early 
ministers,  and  there  were  many  of  the  same  spu-it  and  zeal  wht). 
like  Dr.  Pinkney,  strove,  while  caring  for  their  immediate  tlocks, 
to  kindle  up  and  give  impetus  to  church-feeling  and  life  beyond 
the  limits  of  theii*  large  parishes. 


*  St.  Johu's  :  or^iiuized  in  1845. 
■^  St.  Philip's  :  organized  in  1848. 
X  St.  John's  :  erected  in  18.")rj. 
§  Grace  Church  ;  in  186.5. 

II  These  three  chapels — St.  Johu's.  Norwood  :  St.  .Mary's,  Norbeck  :  and  St. 
Mark's,  Colesville,  were  erected  under  the  miuistrv  of  the  Kev.  J.  13.  .\virett. 


44  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   PINKNEY. 


CHAPTER  YIII. 

Election  of  Dr.  Whittixgham — Dzath  of  Ret.  Dk.  McElhinet — Associa- 
tions.    1840-'44. 

Although  as  yet  young  in  the  ministry,  ]\Ii\  Pixkxey  took  deep 
interest  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Diocesan  conventions  that  were 
hekl  during  the  exciting  and  memorable  contests  from  1838  to 
184:0.  for  the  election  of  a  Bishop,  and  was  on  some  of  the 
committees  that  were  raised  to  secure  unanimity  in  an  election. 
In  1889  he  was  on  one  such  committee  that  unanimously  recom- 
mended the  Rev.  Dr.  "NYhittingham  as  one  of  two  clergymen  to  be 
voted  for  by  the  clergy  as  Bishop.  He  was  then,  as  ever  after- 
wards, most  decided  in  his  chiu'chmanship,  without  being  at  all 
partisan  in  his  \'iews  or  feelings.  Along  with  his  strong  con\ic- 
tions  as  a  churchman  he  united  the  kindliest  feelings  towards  those 
less  tenacious  than  himself,  respecting  the  distinctive  features  of 
the  Church,  in  matters  of  doctrine,  order,  and  ecclesiastical  polity. 
For  those  outside  of  her  fold,  whom  he  deemed  in  error,  yet 
seeking  to  be  followers  of  Christ,  he  had  all  due  consideration 
and  sympathy. 

No  man  rejoiced  more  than  himself  in  the  happy  election  of  Dr. 
"NYhittingham  to  the  Episcopate  of  Maryland,  in  1810.  He  gave 
to  the  new  Bishop  a  most  cordial  welcome,  and  was  accustomed 
to  accompany  him  on  some  of  his  visitations.  He  held  in  highest 
admiration  the  Bishop's  great  talents  and  learning,  his  extraor- 
dinary powers  as  a  preacher,  and  his  eminent  sjiii'ltuality  of 
character  and  life.  And,  although,  at  a  much  later  period,  he  was 
conscientiously  constrained  to  differ  from  the  Bishop,  most 
seriously  and  painfully,  on  many  grave  matters  touching  the 
Episcopal  prerogative  and  the  rights  of  the  clergy,  he  never  failed 
in  the  respect  and  reverence  due  from  him  as  a  presbyter  to  his 
superior  in  office,  nor  afterwards,  when  he  became  the  Assistant 
Bishop  of  the  Diocese,  was  he  ever  wanting  in  the  most  cordial 
and  self-sacrificing  efforts  for  the  rehef  of  the  Bishop  and  for  the 
work  of  the  Episcopate  in  the  Diocese. 

In  close  connection  with,  and  almost  immediately  following 
upon.  Dr.  "NYhittingham's  consecration  as  Bishop,  was  the  melan- 
<-holy  death  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  George  McElhiney,  rector  of  St. 
Anne's  Parish,  Annapolis,  which  occurred  m  the  early  spring  of 
1841.  Tlie  loss  which  the  Church  in  Maryland  thus  sustained 
was  felt  by  Mr.  Pixkney  as  a  great  personal  bereavement.  Dr. 
McElhiney  had  been  associated  with  those  studies  and  counsels 


LIFE    OF    lilSlIOI'    riNKNKY.  45^ 

that  led  to  Mr.  Pinknev's  entrance  into  the  miniHtrj'  of  the  Church 
and  to  his  subsequent  studies  and  examinations  for  the  ]inest- 
hood.  He  had  been  Mr.  Pinkney's  predecessor  in  the  parishes  in 
Somerset  county.  He  was  the  i>astor  of  his  mother's  family. 
He  became  (me  of  Mr.  Pinkneys  nearest  and  dearest  friends  in 
the  ministrj^,  and  freciueut  correspondence  was  kept  u\)  Ix'iween 
them. 

Dr.  McElhiney's  character  and  position  have  been  already 
noted.  The  occasion  and  the  circumstances  of  his  death  were 
such  as  to  excite  the  profoundest  sympathy  and  touch  all  hearts. 
During  the  vacancy  in  the  I'lpiscopate  he  was  a})pointed  by  the 
Diocesan  Convention  to  solicit  subscriptions  to  the  permanent  fund 
for  the  support  of  the  Bishop.  The  sum  pro})osed  to  be  raised 
was  ;^G0,000.     Up  to  the  time  of  Dr.  Whittingham's  election,  in 

1840,  little  progress  had  been  made  in  raisuig  the  amount.  Upon 
the  happy  termination  of  the  c(mtest  for  the  election  of  a  Bishop, 
Dr.  McElhiney,  full  of  the  zeal  and  determuiation  that  character- 
ized him,  started  forth  to  the  work  in  the   latter   part  of  April, 

1841.  Leaving  his  parish  in  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Humphreys, 
of  St.  John's  College,  and  accomi»inied  l)y  Mr.  Pixkxey  from 
AnnapoKs  as  far  as  Blenlieim,  w-here  he  stopped  for  the  night, 
he  proceeded  on  his  way  to  the  southern  counties  of  the  Western 
Shore  of  the  State.  As  the  weather  was  extremely  inclement  for 
the  season,  and  as  he  performed  liis  journeys  on  hor.selxick,  he 
was  much  exposed.  "While  prosecuting  this  work  and  Hearing 
Leonardtown,  in  St.  Mary's  county,  he  was  suddenly'  seized  with 
an  alarming  illness  that  terminated  fatally  in  the  course  of  a  few- 
days.  He  was  lovingly  cared  for  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Sf)utheron 
Key,  and  kindly  attended  by  the  rector  of  the  parish,  Rev.  Mr. 
Claxton.  His  brother  clergyman,  seeing  how  greatly  he  was 
suffering  in  his  last  moments,  said  to  him  :  "  You  have  much  to 
comfort  you  in  the  recollection  of  your  services  to  the  Church,  and 
in  the  good  work  for  the  Church  you  have  just  been  doing."  To 
which,  in  his  characteristic  manner.  Dr.  ]McElhiney  replied :  "  It 
does  not  comfort  me  at  all.  I  look  to  a  higher  source.  I  look  to 
our  LORD  and  Saviour,  Jesus  CHRIST,  and  ^//f/v  I  rA>  find  com- 
fort." So  saying  he  soon  breathed  his  last,  calm  and  resigned. 
In  that  section  of  the  country,  and  at  that  period,  thei-e  were  no 
telegi'aphs  and  no  lailroads,  and  while  his  sorrowing  wife,  Avho 
had  been  summoned  by  a  special  messenger  on  horsebiick  to  come 
to  him,  was  on  her  way,  and  still  twenty  miles  h\nn  Mr.  Key's 
residence,  other  messengers  came  to  her  with  the  tidings  that  her 
husband  was  dead  and  buried.  The  sorrowing  widow,  thus  sud- 
denly bereaved,  was  forced  to  turn  back  to  her  desolate  home 
in  the  rectory  of  St.  Anne's. 

So  pass  away  from  earth's  labors  to  then-  rest  in  Paradise 
some  of  the  noblest  servants   of   GOD  in   the  ministry  of   the 


4G  LIFE    OF    IBISHOP    PINKNEY. 

Chiu-cb.  ere  yet  they  have  reached  the  full  maturity  of  tlieu-  years 
and  their-  usefidness. 

A  glowing  tribute  to  the  memory  of  this  able  and  zealous 
clergyman  was  paid  by  Bishop  "Whittingham.  in  his  first  address 
to  the  convention  of  the  Diocese,  in  May,  1841.     The  Bishop  said  : 

•' For  the  noble-hearted,  liouest.  upright  mau  :  the  humble  siugle- 

niiuiled  Christian  :  the  ardeut.  zealously  devoted  minister  of  the  Gospel  of 
salvation,  and  servant  (jf  the  Church  of  his  Redeemer  .-  how  shall  I  express 
the  sense  of  bereavement  with  which  all  the  diocese  (for  the  whole  diocese 
knew,  and,  for  good  reason,  loved  him)  is  yet  smarting?  A  truer  soldier 
never  bore  the  banner  of  the  cross,  a  steadier  servant  never  ministered  in 
the  Saviour's  household.  He  died  a  martyr  to  his  zeal,  in  the  proseciition 
of  the  task  committed  to  him,  as  agent  for  the  collection  of  a  fund  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  Episcopate  by  the  Diocesan  conventions  of  1839  and  1840."  * 

Touching  the  same  sad  bereavement  Mr.  Pinkxey  thus  ^vi-ites 
to  his  mother  : 

"  I  read  your  letter  containing  a  particular  account  of  the  late  illness  and 
-death  of  my  dear  friend,  with  a  sad,  sad  heart.  I  was  joyously  anticipating 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  him  at  convention.  GOD  grant  that,  in  his  sudden 
removal  fi-om  the  scenes  of  his  stewardship,  I  may  be  aroused  to  a  more 
faithful  prosecution  of  mine.  Give  my  love  and  offer  my  kind  sympathy  to 
his  afflicted  family.  *  *  *  My  sister  will  feel  the  death  of  Dr."McElhiney 
<leeply.  Who  will  not  that  knew  him,  and  had  a  heart  to  feel  ?  How 
beautifully  characteristic  was  that  allusion  of  his  to  the  services  he  was 
rendering  the  Church." 

Upon  the  death  of  Dr.  McElhiney  many  of  'Mx.  Pinkney's  early 
friends  in  Annapolis  were  urgent  that  he  should  be  called  to  the 
vacant  rectorship  :  and  while  it  would  have  been  most  agreeable 
to  him  to  be  near  his  mother's  family,  he  gave  it  to  be  understood 
that  he  did  not  wish  to  be  considered  in  that  connection,  and 
could  not  accept  the  charge  if  elected. 

In  1842  he  received  a  very  unexpected  call  to  the  rectorship  of 
the  church  in  Tallahassee,  Florida,  which,  after  due  consideration, 
he  declined.  The  call  was  renewed  with  pressing  urgency  and 
the  needs  of  that  church  clearly  presented.  The  salary  was 
liberal,  the  rectorj'  commodious,  and  the  sphere  of  usefulness 
inviting.  The  Bishop  Avas  also  written  to  for  his  favorable  inter- 
position, yiv.  PiXKNEY  himself  thought  that  he  ought  to  refer  the 
matter  to  the  Bishop  for  counsel.  He  did  so,  fuUy  stating  the 
ciicumstances.  Under  the  Bishop's  advice  he  again,  and  definitely, 
declined  the  call. 


*  A  very  just  and  V)eantiful  tribute  to  the  memory  of  Dr.  McElhiney,  with 
some  a(;count  of  his  life  and  eminent  services  in  the  Church,  was  prepared  by 
Dr.  PiNKNKY.  and  pul)lished  in  the  series  of  volumes  that  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Sprague,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  was  issuing  from  the  press,  in  1852,  "  commem- 
orative of  all  the  prominent  deceased  clei'gymen  of  every  communion  in  this 
<.'Ountrv."  "    ■ 


LIFE    OF    lUSIIOl'    I'INKNEY.  47 

Bishop  "\Vhittii]gL;im's  letter,  witli  the  exeeption  of  a  piiriifcraph 
not  luaterial  to  the  main  (jiiestion  in  the  decision,  was  as  foUows. 
It  shows  at  this  early  period  how  true  was  the  Bishop's  estimate 
of  the  man.     The  iUilicn  are  his  own  : 

••  JiAi/riMoicK.  Ortohn-  2'2,  lh-1'2. 

"  My  Dear  Brother  :  I  have  given  twenty-four  hours'  careful  thouf^ht  to 
the  subject  of  your  letter  and  its  enclosure.  The  result  is  that  I  see  no 
reason  to  advise  you  to  go.  (I  put  the  result  in  that  shape  because  it  is 
obvious  that  if  my  advice  is  asked  in  the  matter,  it  must  at  onr^he  given  for 
your  stay,  unless  reasoris  to  the  contrary  ])resent  themselves.)  That  the 
congregation  at  Tallahassee  is  in  urgent  need  I  cannot  doubt :  but  thi'y  liave 
failed,  as  it  seems  to  me,  to  substantiate  any  claim  njxm  you  to  su])))ly  that 
need.  There  mail  be  ])r()vidential  circumstances  connected  with  their  choice 
of  you  that  indicate  an  overruling  direction  of  your  step:  if  there  l)e,  they 
do  not  appear  in  the  papers  sent  me. 

"  You  are  usefiil  where  you  are.  You  are  happy.  You  are  loved  by  your 
people,  by  yoi;r  Ijrethren,  by  your  Bishop.  You  are,  in  a  (juiet  way,  serving 
the  dio('ese  while  you  serve  your  parishes,  and  I  speak  with  no  exaggeration 
when  I  say  that  I  fear  most  the  result  of  your  loss  to  the  (Vorese  than  that  of 
your  removal  from  y<nir  parhhen.  There  ought  to  be  xtroiif/  and  rlfar  rcasi>ns 
to  counter-balance  these.  If  ycni  perceive  such  :  if  you  know  circumstances 
attending  your  introduction  to  the  notice  of  the  Tallahasseeans  of  which  I  am 
ignorant ;  if  you  draw  from  their  letter  to  you,  and  that  to  myself,  an  inference 
that  duty  to  Christ,  whoso  famishing  sheep  they  are,  require  you  to  leave  the 
less  needy  portion  of  this  flock  to  which  you  now  minister,  I  am  not  the  one 
to  let  seltish  considerations  of  my  own  loss,  »)rof  that  of  the  flock  of  which  I 
have  the  oversight,  prevad  with  me  to  gainsay  your  conclusions.  All  I  have 
to  say  is.  that  they  are  not  mine.  It  tnay  be  your  duty  to  go.  You  may 
rightly  deem  it  so.  I  am  far  ft-om  undertaking  to  say  that  such  cannot  be 
the  case.  But  if  it  be,  i)rejudices  (so  natural,  in  behalf  of  mine  order;  or 
want  of  information  hinder  me  from  perceiving  it.     *     *     * 

''  You  see  I  -pwi  the  considerations  of  risk  of  health,  separation  from 
friends,  itc,  out  of  the  question,  as  I  am  sure  they  are  with  you.  and  this 
they  always  ought  to  be.  If  it  he  your  duty  to  go  to  Tallahassee,  it  is  your 
duty  to  go  at  whatever  risk  or  cost.  If  it  be  not,  there  is  no  need  of  taking 
into  account  considerations  which  are  unnecessary  to  the  decision. 

"  Finally,  if'xt  rests  with  me,  because  you  have  no  choice  (or  because  your 
view  of  duty  inclines  against  change,  unless  I  advise  it),  then  yon  xtay. 
But  if  apart  from  any  decision  of  mine  you  think  that  you  ought  to  go,  then 
must  I  submit  you  to  the  guidance  of  ycmr  own  conscience  taught  and  over- 
ruled by  the  blessed  Spirit  of  light  and  truth.  To  His  most  gracious 
influences  I  heartily  commend  you,  now,  in  your  time  of  need. 
"  Most  affectionately  yours,  wherever  you  mav  be, 

'"  W.  U.  WHITTINGH.VM." 

Mr.  PiNKNEY  was  not  long  in  f(wmiiig  acHiiKiintance.  more  or  less 
intimate,  with  the  clergy  in  Prince  George's  and  the  adjoining 
counties.  Among  these  were  the  two  AVilmers  (Simon  and  Lem- 
uel), Marbury,  McKenney,  Chesley,  Gillis,  Trajjuell,  Nelson,  Buck, 
Harris,  Stanley,  and  others.  He  united  with  these  brethren  in 
holding  "  Association  "  services  in  their  churches,  and  annually 
in  his  o^\'n  parishes. 

Long  before  the  present  or  any  organized  system  of  "  Convo- 
cations''  was   established  in  Maryland,  it   was  usual   in  ]iarts  of 


48  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

the  State,  specially  in  Prince  George's  and  the  adjacent  counties- 
and  the  District  of  Columbia,  for  the  clergy  to  unite  in  holding 
in  their  resj)ective  churches  what  were  then  called  "Associations." 
They  were  for  a  number  of  years  marked  featm-es  in  the  clerical 
and  parochial  life  of  these  sections.  Some  three  and  four,  or 
live  and  six  rectors  within  a  district,  not  too  large  to  preclude 
interchange  of  visits,  would  associate  together,  not  by  any  written 
forms,  but  by  simple  verbal  agreement,  to  meet  at  conveniently 
ap})ointed  times,  at  each  other's  churches  for  di\dne  services,  and 
continued  preachings  and  exhortations,  to  be  kept  up  for  several 
successive  days — always  veek-days,  as  each  rector  had  to  be  at 
his  own  church  on  Sunday.  These  associations  were  usually 
held  duruig  the  months  of  August  and  September,  as  the  seasons 
most  convenient  to  people  engaged  in  agriculture  and  most  suita- 
ble on  account  of  the  weather.  They  generally  lasted  from  two 
to  thi'ee  days,  and  sometimes  longer. 

The  people  assemljled  in  great  numbers,  some  coming  from 
long  (hstauces,  and  not  a  few  of  them  members  of  the  surround- 
ing denominations,  and  they  came  in  all  sorts  of  vehicles.  These 
associations  were  conducted  in  a  churchl}^  ^'^y-  The  prayer  book 
services,  for  morning  and  evening  prayer,  were  regularly  said, 
and  were  followed  hy  sermons  and  exhortations  of  a  direct, 
practical,  and  evangelic  character,  sometimes  very  awakening  and 
stirring.  After  the  morning  services  came  the  recess,  which 
lasted  about  an  hour,  and  was  passed  by  the  congregation  under 
the  shade  of  the  trees  and  in  partaking  of  refreshments  brought 
by  them  from  their  homes,  the  solemnity  of  the  preceding  services 
giving  a  subdued  tone  to  the  social  converse. 

Some  of  the  more  staid  and  strict  of  the  High  Church  clergy 
may  have  regarded  them  as  tending  too  dangerously  towards  a 
departure  from  the  old  and  settled  ways  of  the  Chin'ch.  They 
grew  out  of  the  necessity  which  was  felt  by  the  clergy  for  closer 
fraternal  union  among  themselves,  for  mutual  counsellings  touch- 
ing their  great  work  of  preachmg  the  Gospel,  and  for  gi^^.ng  more 
s})u-itu;dity  and  eflectiveness  to  their  ministi-y.  It  was  felt  that  a 
series  of  serAices  and  j^reachings  for  several  sviccessive  days  in  a 
church  would  tend  greatly  to  rouse  up  church  members  to  more 
of  quickened  life  and  zeal,  and  at  the  same  time  to  produce  deep 
and  permanent  rehgious  impressions  on  the  hearts  of  those 
negligent  and  careless  about  all  religion.  It  was  reaUy  an  effort 
on  the  i^art  of  faithful  and  earnest  clergymen  to  show  that,  while 
the  Church  has  her  laws  and  ordinances  which  are  to  be  duly 
obeyed  and  observed,  she  is,  at  the  same  time,  so  all-comi)rehensive 
in  her  provisions  for  the  extension  of  CHRIST'S  kingdom  that  her 
dci-gy,  under  tlieir  divine  commission,  can  go  forth  to  preach 
CHRIST,  and  gather  into  the  true  fold  of  the  Church  the  lost  and 
the  erring  everywhere  surrounding  her  in  this  sinful  world.     It. 


LIFE    OF    IJISHOr    I'INKNEY.  49 

served  to  awaken  si^ecial  interest  in  the  Kubjeet  of  reli<j^ioii  in  tlic 
sections  where  they  were  held,  and  to  brinjj^  the  Church  more 
prominently  before  the  peojile,  as  a  great  preaching,  as  well 
as  worshipping.  Church.  It  served  also  to  correct  and  counteract 
that  tendency  which  every  parish  clergyman  exi)eriences,  of  con- 
tiniiig  his  thoughts,  his  sympathies,  and  the  responsibilities  of  his 
ministry  too  exclusively  to  the  wants  and  needs  of  his  own 
pai'oehial  cure. 

It  was  for  no  partisan  purposes  that  these  associations  were 
originated  and  conducted,  for  those  known  as  High  Clunvlimen 
fraternized  with  their  Low-Church  ])rethren  in  holding  them  ;  and 
rarely,  if  ever,  did  iuiy  unpleasant  issues  arise  respecting  the 
doctrines  preached  and  the  counsels  given. 

They  were,  indeed,  similar  to,  and  in  the  mode  of  conducting 
them  almost  identical  with,  what  are  now  called  "  Parish  Mis- 
sions," with  this  difference,  that  there  were  no  j^rofessed  or 
recognized  "  Missioners."  Of  course  some  of  the  clerg-y  were 
found  to  be  more  gifted  than  others  in  the  special  powers  and 
qualifications  which  such  meetings  called  for  on  the  i)art  of  the 
preachers  and  leaders,  and  such  would  naturally  be  sought  out 
and  secured  when  possible. 

It  is  with  some  a  question  whether  the  present  organized  sys- 
tem of  "•  Convocations,"  or  the  more  recent  j^lan  of  holding 
''  Parish  Missions,"  is  as  effective  for  the  extension  of  the  Kmg- 
dom  of  Christ  and  for  quidvening  the  spiritual  and  mission  life 
in  the  Church,  as  the  old  and  now  disused  system  of  voluntar}' 
Associations. 

AVhile  one  of  these  Associations  was  in  progress  at  St.  Barthol- 
omew's Church,*  Montgomery  county,  in  1846,  the  late  Dean  of 
the  Washington  Convocation,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Meyer  Lewin,  hap- 
pened by  an  accidental  coincidence  to  be  passing  through  the 
neighborhood  in  company  with  a  friend.  He  saw  from  the  public 
road  the  hill  on  which  the  church  stood  crowded  with  all  sorts  of 
vehicles,  and  curiosity  promj^ted  him  to  stop  for  a  while  to  see 
Mhat  it  all  meant.  Comiug  to  the  church  door  and  peering  in, 
great  was  his  amazement  to  see  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pinkney  preaching 
aAvay  with  all  his  force  from  the  pul2)it,  then  so  large  as  to  hold 
the  preacher  and  several  of  the  brethren.  It  was  both  a  surjiiise 
and  a  sort  of  revelation  to  him.  Forthwith  he  was  constrained 
to  remain  and  take  part  in  the  services,  lenving  the  companion 
of  his  journey  to  dej^art  without  him.  That  may  be  said  to  have 
been  the  beginning  of  a  friendship  and  an  intimacy  that  lasted 
with  an  ever-increasing  mutual  love  and  confidence  between  Dr. 
Pinkney,  afterwards  bishoj),  and  Dr.  Lewin,  afterwards  dean,  as 
it  was  also  the  beginning  of  a  very  dear  friendship  between  the 


*0f  wbicli  thf>  -wTiter  was  tlu-u  tlio  KcctDr. 


50  LIFE    OF    BISHOr    PINKNEY. 

latter  and  the  writer.  Dr.  Lewin  was  very  fond  of  recurring  to 
this  casual  meeting  and  to  the  long  and  delightful  converse  held 
afterwards  at  the  rectory  and  prolonged  into  the  small  hours  of 
the  night. 

Mr.  PiNKXEY,  in  one  of  his  letters  to  his  mother  referring  to 
these  Associations,  says  : 

"I  am  very  well,  though  I  was  never  more  busy.  I  have  attended  seven 
Associations,  the  most  of  which  lasted  three  or  four  days.  I  have  preached 
and  conducted  prayers  a  number  of  times.  These  labors  I  have  shared  with 
live  or  six  of  the  surrounding  clergy,  so  that  I  am  not  peculiarly  imprudent. 
I  intend  to  spare  myself  in  order  that  I  may  devote  more  time  to  my  study 
and  the  closet."  , 

Of  the  seven  associations  two  no  doubt  were  held  in  his  own 
cures,  as  it  was  his  practice  to  hold  them  annually,  one  in  each 
church  :  and  he  writes  as  if  these  labors  for  the  season  were  over. 

He  adds  in  this  same  letter : 

"  I  expect  to  start  very  early  to-morrow  for  a  distant  part  of  the  parish, 
where  I  shall  remain  until  Sunday  evening.  I  have  just  finished  a  lecture, 
and  yet  my  hands  are  full.  If  I  could  find  time  I  would  like  to  write  some- 
thing on  the  cause  of  "  Missions  "  for  the  i^ress.  Mrs.  W..  who  promised  to 
adopt  my  plan  last  year,  gave  me  as  the  product  of  it,  a  few  days  ago,  eleven 
dollars,  which  she  raised  with  little  inconvenience  to  herself.*  This  letter 
is  not  worth  sending,  but  when  you  know  it  is  written  after  a  day  of  close 
study,  you  will  pardon  it.  My  love  to  my  dear  sister  and  the  family,  and  to 
all  friends." 

Again,  in  another  letter,  which  shows  how  busily  occupied  he 
was,  he  says : 

"  I  seize  the  opportiinity  of  writing  you  a  few  lines.  Since  I  have  com- 
menced a  series  of  lectures  on  Romans — all  of  which  I  write — my  time  is 
very  much  occupied.  The  unavoidable  interruptions,  occasioned  by  the 
long  rides  I  am  compelled  to  take,  interfere  amazingly  with  my  habits  and 
disposition  :  however,  I  hope  I  shall  be  able  to  get  along  to  the  satisfaction 
of  the  people — of  succeeding  to  my  own  satisfaction  I  have  long  since  de- 
spaired." 


*  He  reports  in  the  Convention  Journal  of  May,  1838,  the  completion  of 
the  2d  year  of  his  rectorship,  the  sum  of  ^:'202.;>0,"  as  i-aised  in  his  parishes, 
for  Misdonary  jyuriwsex — a  large  sum  for  that  period. 


LIFK    OF    lilSIlol'    I'lNKNEV. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Visit  to  Virginia — Illness  of  His  Mother — Call  to  St.  Anne's  Parish, 
Annapolis.     183'.)-'44. 

Mr.  Pinkney  very  rarely  left  his  parishes  for  any  recreation.  He 
never  desired  or  accepted  any  re^-ular  \acations.  Fortunately, 
after  reaching-  full  maturity,  his  health  did  not  require  any  cessa- 
tion from  parish  work,  or  even  temiK)rary  relinquishment  of  duty 
for  recuperation.  In  youth  and  early  manhood  he  was  delicate 
in  health  and  seemed  to  have  a  frail  and  feeble  constitution.  In 
the  begin nin<;-  of  his  ministry  and  for  some  years  after,  he  was 
under  medical  treatment  for  sore  throat  and  feebleness  of  voice, 
compelling  at  times  cessation  from  preaching.  He  suffered  also 
from  chronic  inflammation  of  the  eyes,  which  for  many  years  occa- 
sioned him  much  inconvenience  and  pain,  aggravated  no  doubt 
by  his  close  study  at  nights  under  the  feeble  and  flickering  light 
of  the  candles  and  lamps  then  in  use.  As  j^ears  advanced  the 
innate  soundness  and  vigor  of  his  physical  system  became  appar- 
ent and  his  powers  of  endurance  under  exhausting  laljors  very 
remarkable.  It  was  the  more  remarkable  because  he  paid  very 
little  attention  to  matters  of  personal  ease  and  comfort.  He  was 
strictly  temperate  and  even  a])stemious  in  his  li^'ing,  never  taking 
more  than  a  single  cup  of  cofitee  at  meals,  and  very  rarely  at  any 
time,  and  never  at  all  in  later  life,  could  he  be  persuaded  to  take 
even  a  single  glass  of  wine  for  refreshment.  He  was  very  ob- 
servant of  the  Church  fasts.  He  had  no  dietetic  system  of  li^•ing, 
and  was  very  iiTegular  in  his  hours  of  work  and  rest.  Just  on- 
ward from  day  to  day  would  he  go,  meeting  the  duties  of  each 
day  as  they  came  before  him  and  taking  his  rest  as  opj:)ortunity 
afforded,  or  absolute  need  required,  and  yet  with  all  this  apparent 
irregularity  he  was  strictly  exact  and  conscientious  in  keeping 
all  appointments  in  his  ministry  for  service,  for  visits,  or  for  any 
Church  business.  So  punctual  was  he  in  all  his  engagements 
that  he  never  failed  to  be  j^resent  unless  hindered,  which  rarely 
happened,  by  some  power  that  he  could  not  control.  His  only 
indulgence  was  that  of  his  favorite  cigar ;  and  he  always  gave 
to  his  friends  more  than  he  himself  used.  For  their  benefit  he 
generally  carried  with  him  a  goodly  supply,  and  sometimes  he 
would  surprise  a  brother  clergyman  with  the  present  of  a  whole 
box.  Under  advice  and  from  his  own  experience  he  found  relief 
in  smoking,  and  continued  the  practice,  after  the  necessity  which 
fii'st  occasioned  it  ceased :  but  lie  never  indulged  at  unseemly 


52  LIFE   OF   BISHOP    riXKXEY. 

times,  or  fell  under  slavish  bondage  to  the  lialiit.  In  dress  he 
was  very  simple  and  plain,  sometimes  almost  nt-iilhj!'  in  apparel, 
though  one  could  never  fail  to  see  beneath  the  attire  the  clergy- 
man and  the  gentleman.  He  rarely  wore  an  overcoat,  or  used 
gloves,  or  carried  an  umbrella,  and  he  would  go  in  all  sorts  of 
weather. 

His  long  life  of  activity  and  toil,  both  physical  and  mental, 
with  no  serious  or  permanent  disability  of  body  or  mind,  shows 
what  innate  strength  and  soundness  there  was  in  his  native  con- 
stitution. 

No  doubt,  as  allusions  in  his  correspondence  indicate,  he  was 
often  weary  and  way^vorn — anxious  almost  to  distress  about  some 
sick  ])arishioner.  or  dear  friend,  whom  he  would  so  much  desire 
to  win  to  Chiist  for  f>afety  and  consolation  to  the  soul.  No  doubt 
at  times  heartsore  and  sad.  as  the  ministers  of  Christ  must  some- 
times be,  under  toilsome  labors  that  seem  to  have  so  little  present 
fruitage  of  good  to  souls.  No  doubt,  too,  he  was  often  disheartened 
and  perplexed  at  seeing,  as  he  once  said  in  unburdening  his  glow- 
ing heart  m  a  letter  to  Bishop  WTiittingham.  so  much  coldness 
and  worldliness  in  the  Chui'ch  in  some  quarters,  and  in  others  the 
distractions  introduced  by  men  of  restless  minds  and  strange 
obliquities,  whose  chief  vocation  in  the  ministry  seemed  to  be  to 
create  disturbance  by  introducing  novelties  and  extravagances  in 
the  settled  worship  and  well-ordered  ministrations  of  the  Church. 
But  in  patience  he  possessed  his  soul,  and  went  on  in  his  earnest, 
loving,  and  useful  work. 

In  a  letter  to  his  mother,  in  March,  1839,  he  says : 

' '  I  am  most  worn  out  with  a  case  tliat  for  one  liixndred  days  and  more  lias 
occupied  my  time— the  lady  is  still  ill,  and  every  two  or  three  days  I  have  to 
ride  and  see  her.     I  have  two  or  three  other  cases  on  hand." 

Again  he  writes : 

"  I  steal  a  moment  from  my  sermon  to  write  a  line  to  yon  and  my  dear 
sister.  I  wish  it  was  in  my  power  to  ride  up  and  see  you.  I  will  try  to  do 
so  before  lone;.  My  time  is  fully  occupied  :  indeed.  I  am  always  behind  my 
work.  This  parish,  you  know,  is  large.  There  seems  to  be  a  good  state  of 
feeling  among  the  pef)pl('.  and  if  I  only  had  a  few  zealous  and  active  co- 
adjutors :iinong  my  laymen,  I  would  be  able  to  do  a  good  deal  for  the  benefit 
of  the  church.  As  it  is,  I  trust  my  labors  will  be  crowned  with  some  suc- 
cess. The  people  are  very  kind.  *  *  *  i  must  say  good-bye.  I  am  very 
tired  or  I  would  keep  on.  My  sermon  is  not  completed.  Will  you  send  me 
a  piece  <jf  your  poetry  which  begins  somehow  in  this  way :  'Oh  I  seek  not 
earth's  pleasures' — you  will  know  which  I  mean.     By  no  means  forget  it." 

Filial  duty  and  his  affection  for  his  mother  and  sister  reciiiii-ed 
him  to  make  occasional  A'isits  to  Annapolis.  These  journeys  in  the 
early  period  of  his  ministry,  before  the  Annapolis  Kailroad  was 
constructed,  were  always  made  on  horseback — the  distance  nearly 
forty  miles.  Thus,  in  1831).  on  his  return  from  one  of  those  visits, 
he  writes  to  his  mother  : 


LIFE    OF    lUslIoi'    IMNKNFV.  53 

"  I  kuow  you  will  be  iiuxi<jus  to  lu-ar  of  luy  safe  arrival,  and  I  then-'forc 
write  you  a  few  lines,  with  which  yon  must  be  satistied.  1  have  been  on  the 
road  almost  ever  since  I  reached  Bladeiisbnrs^.  The  roads  were  in  a  most 
shockin<i  condition  the  day  I  left  Annaimlis.  I  had  to  walk  my  horse  the 
better  ])art  of  the  way,  and  when  I  i,'ot  to  the  en<l  of  my  journey  I  was  very 
uiueh  fatigued.  All  were  well.  The  ladies  were  in  the  city  anil  had  a  fine, 
beautiful  day  to  transact  business.  "While  I  was  anxiously  waiting  th<'ii'  return 
my  dear  Betsey  stole  iu  the  room  where  I  was  resting  myself,  smilin<i  and 
cheerful  as  any  truant  ever  was  before.  She  often  si)eaks  of  you  and  Amelia. 
I  was  i)leased  to  see  the  deep  sympathy  which  all  the  membei's  of  this  dear 
family  manifest  for  my  sister.  Give  my  love  to  her.  I  hope  sheis  l)etter.  I 
think  she  will  be  a  long  time  confined  to  her  room,  although  I  have  m  <  di  ml  it 
of  her  ultimate  recovery.     The  Paint  Chuvch  is  to  be  consecrated." 

One  of  his  favorite  respites  was  to  steal  away  at  times  from  his 
.study  and  parishes  to  g-o  to  the  Capitol  to  listen  to  the  Cono-res- 
sioual  debates.  He  delighted  in  the  exhibitions  of  elo(|uenee  and 
oratorical  powers.  He  was  almost  carried  away  with  his  enthusi- 
astic admiration  of  Clay.  "Webster,  Preston,  and  others,  and  would 
return  from  the  Capitol  full  of  the  glow  of  his  excited  feeling. 

In  a  letter  to  his  mother  he  describes  one  of  those  \'isits : 

"  I  went  over  to  Congress  to-day  (January,  1H42).  and,  after  walking  live 
miles,  stood  until  four  o'clock,  during  the  delivery  of  two  very  eloquent  and 
aide  speeches,  and  then  walked  Ijuck  again :  so  that  you  may  perceive  I  am 
well.  Mr.  Clay  delivered  a  great  speech  upon  the  veto  i)ower.  It  was  not 
equal  to  his  other  speeches.  It  was,  however,  bold,  eloquent,  and  able,  full 
of  his  characteristic  ardor,  iudepeudeuce,  and  tire.  He  was  not  well.  I 
could  not  help  admiring  the  maidy  and  oiten  countenance  and  the  indications 
of  a  sincere  and  patriotic  heart.  I  do  not  agree  with  him  in  o])inion,  but  I 
do  sympathize  iu  the  wane  of  his  influence.  Mr.  Preston  folh  )wed  in  a  speech 
of  unequalled  power.  He  is  impetuous,  but  in  the  beauty,  brilliancy,  and 
correctness  of  his  style,  the  ease,  grace,  and  tire  of  his  manner,  he  is  emi- 
nently to  be  admired.  It  is  the  most  brilliant  effort  I  have  heard  in  the  hall 
of  Congress." 

Some  relaxation  he  found  in  pleasant  social  converse  and  in 
correspondence  with  intimate  friends.  He  was  by  no  means  a 
recluse.  He  delighted  in  the  society  of  uitelligent  and  cultured 
persons  of  both  sexes.  He  entered  with  eagerness  into  the  dis- 
cussion of  all  topics  relating  to  Church  iind  public  aftairs.  AVith- 
out  lieing  a  controversialist,  and  always  true  as  he  was  for  life- 
long to  the  old  and  sure  standards  oi  the  Church  in  doctrine  and 
jtolity.  he  took  part  in  the  various  controversies  that  came  up 
in  the  Church,  or  bore  upon  the  relations  of  the  Church  to  the 
surrounding  religious  denominations.  He  was  very  tluent  in 
conversation,  and  often  indulged  in  pleasant  and  sprightly  humor. 
Along  with  a  certain  repose,  not  reserre,  of  manner,  there  was  a  win- 
ning sympathy  and  cordiality  most  refined  and  attractive,  giving  the 
charm  of  ease  and  freedom  to  social  intercourse.  Hence  he  was 
ever  a  delightful  companion,  free  from  all  conventionalities  and 
affectations,  and  his  presence  in  any  social  cii'de  was  always  gladly 
welcomed. 


54  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   PINKNEY. 

On  one  occasion,  in  the  summer  of  184:3,  with  his  brother-in-law, 
Mr.  B.  O.  Lowndes,  he  made  an  excursion  into  Vu-ginia,  partly  to 
visit  his  wife's  relations,  but  chiefly  that  each  might  purchase  for 
himself  a  riding-horse.  The  expedition  was  a  very  pleasant  and 
successful  one.  Going  thither  by  the  railroad,  they  returned  on 
horseback  with  the  ponies  jDurchased.  The  one  Mr.  Pixknet 
bought,  a  sorrel  that  he  called  '•  Pacey,''  served  him  for  many 
years  in  his  j^astoral  rides.  His  experiences  of  anxiety  and  uncer- 
tainty were  such  as  all  undergo  in  the  matter  of  procuring  a  safe 
and  j^leasant  ridiug-horse.  but  in  tliis  case  the  result  Avas  very 
satisfactory.  He  gives  an  interesting  account  of  this  visit  in 
letters  to  his  wife.     Writiug  in  August,  1843,  he  says  : 

"  We  had  a  very  pleasant  passage  in  the  ears  after  our  hurried  departure 
from  the  parsonage.  At  the  relay  I  was  accosted  in  a  very  warm  and  pleasant 
manner  by  a  young  gentleman,  who  turned  out  to  be  Mrs.  V.'s  brother.  He 
asked  for  you.  We  had  a  good  nap  the  tirst  part  of  the  journey  in  those 
delightful  cars  to  Harper's  Ferry.  The  country  is  beautiful,  though  the 
Aiew  is  narrow  and  confined.  As  you  approach  Harper's  Ferry  and  catch 
the  first  glimpse  of  the  beautiful  mountains  and  go  on  until  you  reach  their 
noble  base,  you  want  words  to  express  and  almost  ideas  to  conceive  the  full 
grandeur  and  magnificence  of  the  scene.  Mountain  scenery  is  to  me  strik- 
ingly and  powerfully  impressive.  I  feel  impatient  of  restraint,  and  long  to 
roam  through  the  fastnesses  where  no  mortal  foot  has  trod.  At  Harper's 
Ferry  I  promised  myself  a  break  of  my  fast,  but  when  I  saw  the  general 
aspect  of  things.  I  and  my  appetite  parted  company ;  it  was  a  miserable 
concern.  The  country,  after  you  leave  the  Ferry,  is  beautiful  indeed. 
Close  by  the  Shenandoah,  as  it  rushes  through  the  large  jutting  rocks  in  a 
boiling,  dashing  cvirrent,  or  else  lies  as  passive  as  an  infant  in  its  slumbers, 
you  pursue  your  rapid  way,  then  you  see  fields  of  luxuriant  wheat. 

"  When  we  reached  the  depot  we  put  our  baggage  in  safe-keeping,  and 
urged  on  our  way  to  your  uncle's  in  the  heat  of  the  day:  for.  sti'ange  to 
relate,  we  breakfasted  at  home  and  found  ourselves,  about  half-past  one  or 
two.  130  miles  distant.  We  took  him  by  sui'prise,  although  he  had  sent  the 
carriage,  which  passed  us  by  on  the  road.  Your  uncle  looks  very  well  and  is 
strikingly  like  your  dear  father — like  him  in  appearance,  voice,  and  manner — 
so  like  him  that  for  a  long  time  I  could  hardly  realize  it  was  not  he.  He 
recalls  the  image  of  your  father  perpetually — has  that  same  significant  shake 
of  the  forefinger,  nod  of  the  head,  puts  his  hand  iinder  his  coat,  stops  as  he 
paces  the  floor,  turns  and  looks  upon  you  with  the  same  beautiful  smiles, 
and  says  '  Sir  '  in  the  same  tone.  I  have  left  no  room  to  tell  you  more. 
For  my  sake  be  careful  of  yourself  and  your  sister.  How  I  wish  you  were 
both  with  ua." 

In  another  letter  he  writes  : 

"  I  had  almost  resolved  to  start  in  the  morning  train,  but  as  Ogle  seems  to 
be  anxious  for  me  to  remain  I  will  wait  until  Tuesday  or  Wednesday.  Dr. 
S.  has  a  very  fine  horse,  and  it  is  possible  I  may  i)urchase  him.  The  'A.sso- 
ciation'  will  be  held  to-morrow.  I  shall  hear  Bishop  Meade.  We  went 
home  with  F.  to  B. .  and  found  it  a  beautiful  retreat.  It  is  a  loveh'  residence, 
the  house  and  grounds  all  imposing.  To-day  we  rode  to  Dr.  S.'s.  The  horse 
goes  uoljly.  I  think  it  probalile  I  shall  buy  him.  I  do  not  think  it  safe  or 
prudent  to  ride  Jesse.  Others  have  thought  so  long  ago.  Mrs.  Dr.  S.  has 
been  very  kind  and  attentive.  She  invited  us  to  stay  with  her  during  the 
Association.     The  little  girls  are  sweet,  interesting  children. 


LIFE    OF    liisiioi'    riNKNEY.  DO 

"I  do  all  I  can  to  amuse  your  unole.  How  I  succeecl  I  cannot  tvU.  Aj^'o 
is  peculiarly  venerable,  and  I  love  to  do  it  homaj^e.  I  expect  lie  will  miss 
VIS  very  much,  for  we  cheer  him  without  in  the  least  trespassing  upon  his 
.)ld-t"stal>lished  habits.  I  hope  you  are  careful.  I  long  to  see  you.  I  wish 
your  sister  Nannie  could  breathe  awhile  the  free  mountain  air,  and  .yw, 
too.     I  do  not  feel  improved — home  is  my  best  medicine." 

He  made  occasional  visits  to  Lis  mother  and  relatives  in  Annaj)- 
olis,  and  during-  the  years  1843  and  1844  these  visits  were  especially 
called  for  by  serious  illness  and  death  in  his  mother's  immediate 
family  and  by  the  death  of  his  cousin,  Mr.  Somerville  Pinkney,  to 
whom  he  was  much  attached  and  in  whose  office  he  had  prose- 
cuted his  law  stutlies.  In  a  letter  to  his  wife  he  gives  a  touching 
descrij^tion  of  the  last  moments  of  his  cousin.     He  writes : 

"Poor  Somerville  is  no  niorc.  I  saw  hi;n  breathe  his  last.  He  knew  me 
and  shook  me  warmly  by  the  hand.  I  asked  him  if  he  did  not  feel  the  salva- 
tion of  JESUS  precious.  He  replied,  •Oh,  yes :  it  is  a  great,  a  great  salvation  I ' 
I  sat  by  his  dying  couch,  and,  as  I  looked  upon  his  heaving  chest  and  heard 
his  difficult  respiration,  I  thought  of  the  great  change  that  would  sorm  take 
place.  It  is  a  fearful  thing  to  die- — the  agonies  of  death  are  fearful.  For 
two  long  hours  or  more  we  were  in  that  still  chamber  of  death,  watching  the 
egress  of  the  spirit  from  its  tabernacle  of  clay.  At  about  twenty  minutes 
past  two  o'clock  I  knelt  down  and  offered  up  the  i)rayer  of  the  Church  for  a 
ileparting  soul.  While  I  i)rayed  not  a  sound  was  heard  from  that  bed  of  the 
dying  one,  and  we  thought  all  was  over,  but  one  breath  more  was  drawn. 

*  *  *  He  is  now  cold,  and  in  a  short  time  no  eye  will  see  him — he  will 
be  covered  by  the  clods  of  the  valley  and  slumber  on  until  the  resurrection. 

*  *  *  I  tried  to  console  my  afflicted  cousin.  Oh,  let  us  bear  in  mind  this 
parting  hour  I  Let  its  recollections  soothe  oi;r  feelings  into  deepest  tender- 
ness. How  strange  it  is  that  we  live  so  miich  for  time,  so  little  for  eternity. 
I  think  that  as  I  am  here,  and  as  I  could  not  in  my  i)resent  feelings  bear 
company,  I  will  remain  until  Tuesday  or  to-morrow  week.  Will  Ogle  oblige 
me  by  going  to  the  Paint  and  take  the  collection  and  make  my  apology  to 
the  congregation  ?  I  will  not  officiate  there  until  the  next  Sunday  in  course. 
Take  care  of  yourself,  and  let  me  know  if  you  are  at  all  sick." 

Ill  close  connection  with  this  bereavement  followed  another, 
the  death  of  his  half-brother,  Mr.  Henry  Hol)bs,*  a  most  attractive 
man  and  much  beloved,  especially  by  his  many  youthful  compan- 
ions. He  was  full  of  life  and  joyous  spirits,  tender  and  devoted 
to  his  mother.  His  death  caused  a  sad  vacancy  in  the  cottage 
home  of  the  family  in  Annapolis.  ]Mr.  Pinkney  did  not  reach  the 
city  in  time  for  the  funeral.  He  was  deeply  moved  by  this  death. 
Writing  to  his  wife  after  his  arrival,  he  says  : 

'•I  found  my  dear  mother  quite  composed,  full  of  the  sweetest  religious 
resignation  and  dwelling  vipon  the  niimberless  tokens  of  dear  Harry's  love, 
for  he  was  ever-mindful  and  attentive.  I  had  a  very  gl<  >omy  .iourney  :  indeed, 
I  felt  wretchedlv.  I  could  not  weej)  save  a  few  tears  when  ahme  in  the 
dining-room,  hist  night,  and  yet  there  was  a  sad  aching  in  my  heart  more 
painful  than  tears.  I  did  not"  get  in  time  for  the  funeral.  My  dear  brother 
is  before  me  in  everything,  and  yet  not  present  in  anything— strange  asser. 


*  He  died  November  20,  1844. 


56  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKXEY. 

tion.aud  full  as  true  as  strange.  *  *  *  Dr.  R.  and  Dr.  S.  were  kind 
indeed.  They  prepared  him  for  the  grave  with  their  own  hands,  for  they 
loved  him.  I  cannot  write  save  in  th(jse  few  broken  sentences.  Take  care 
of  yourself.  I  must  now  try  to  make  up  in  some  degree  the  loss,  and  come 
as  often  this  winter  as  possible,  if  I  stay  but  two  or  three  days." 

The  serious  and  alarming-  illness  of  his  mother  about  this  time 
requu-ed  his  presence  in  Annapolis,  and  caused  him  great  anxiety 
and  distress.  Happil}'  she  recovered  :  and  to  his  great  comfort 
and  joy  her  life  was  prolonged,  ns  we  nhall  see,  until  towards  the 
close  of  the  year  1858.  In  writing  to  his  wife  concerning  her 
illness,  he  states  what  was  to  him  a  source  of  pecidiar  happiness 
— it  was  the  retm-n  of  his  mother  into  full  communion  with  the 
Church  of  her  fathers.  It  has  been  ah-eady  stated  that  in  early 
life  she  had  connected  herself  with  the  Methodists,  and  that  while 
a  most  devout  and  earnest  member  of  that  religious  body,  she 
had  never  lost  her  love  and  veneration  for  the  Church.  Although 
writing  to  her  with  utmost  freedom  on  all  religious  and  Church 
subjects,  Mr.  Pixkxey  had  never  sought  or  used  any  special  efforts 
to  bring  about  this  happy  consummation.  She  had  never  given 
much  thought  and  study  to  the  distinctive  claims  of  the  Church 
respecting  unity  and  organization  as  taught  in  the  Holy  Script- 
ures, and  witnessed  for  from  the  Apostles'  daja.  Her  ardent 
mind  seized  hold  of  the  great  and  blessed  truths  of  redemption 
in  CHRIST  JESUS,  and  of  the  quickening  and  sanctif  jang  influen- 
ces of  the  Holy  Spiiit,  with  such  tenacity  and  earnestness  of  both 
conviction  and  feeling,  that  the  matters  pertaining  specially  to 
the  form,  order,  constitution  and  authority  of  the  Church  seemed 
to  her  to  be  of  no  essential  importance.  Gradually,  perhaps 
unconsciously,  these  ^iews  were  undergoing  change.  Certain  it 
is.  that  about  this  period  her  mind  had  reached  the  definite  con- 
clusion that  it  was  her  duty  to  return  to  the  communion  of  the 
Church.  And  it  was  so  that  the  son,  while  suffering  deep 
anxiety  and  distress,  on  account  of  her  illness,  could  at  the  same 
time  rejoice  m  this  hajipy  retui'n  of  his  mother  to  the  fold  and 
bosom  of  the  Church.  He  exj^resses  his  feelings  in  a  letter  written 
to  his  wife  at  the  time  :  and  later  on  in  this  Memoii'  there  will  be 
occasion  to  recur  to  the  interesting  circumstances.     He  writes : 

"  I  found  my  dear  mother  easier,  though  sadly  altered  for  the  worse.  She 
has  been  extremely  ill,  more  so  on  Saturday  than  at  any  time  previous.  She 
takes  a  g<j(>d  deal  of  nourishing  food  to  sustain  her  under  these  awful  attacks 
of  palpitation.     Her  spirits  are  as  g<iod  as  could  be  expected. 

"  What  rejoices  my  heart  above  measure  in  this  dreadful  visitation  is  her 
return  to  the  bosom  of  the  Church.  W(juld  you  lielieve  that  two  of  my 
letters  had  set  her  to  investigate  the  claims  of  "the  Church,  and  an  old  V)ook 
in  my  possession,  accidentally  left  here,  had  under  GOD  accomplished  this 
Idessed  result  ■*  She  felt  that  in  leaving  the  Church  she  had  committed  the 
sin  of  schism,  or  at  all  events  feared  it,  and  desired  to  die  in  the  bosom  of 
the  Church  in  which  she  had  been  baptized.  She  is  now  where  I  wished  her 
to  be. 


LIFE    or    ]{IS1I()P    I'INKNKV.  57 

'•  I  think  I  had  better  reiiuiiutintil  the  middle  of  next  week.  It  isvij,dit  that 
I  shoiihl.  Dr.  K.  says  she  becomes  worse  in  eai'h  attack.  Everybody  is 
kind  and  attentive.  *  *  ♦  Recall  my  appointment  at  the  chapel :  e.\j)laiu 
the  cause  of  my  absence.  Also  recall  my  appointment  for  the  colored 
people." 

About  this  period  the  vacancy  iu  the  rectorship  of  St.  Anne's 
parish,  Annapolis,  occurred  by  the  resignation  of  the  Rev.  Gor(h)n 
Winslow.  and  very  unexpectedly  to  himself  Mr.  Pixknev.  o)i  the 
21st  of  jMarcli.  IH-t-l,  was  called  to  the  charge  of  the  parish. 
"While  it  was  gratifying-  to  him  to  know  that  this  call  came  to  him 
"  unanimously  l)y  people  and  vestry."  yet  at  the  same  time  he 
considered  it  his  duty  to  decline  the  call.  Although  a  residence 
in  Annai)olis  near  to  his  mother  in  her  declining  age  and  to  his 
only  sister  would  have  been  jjeculiarly  gratifying  to  him.  and 
although  the  parish  of  St.  Anne's,  fraught  with  so  many  hallowed 
associations  in  the  city  that  he  loved  l)eyond  all  other  places, 
would  have  opened  to  him  a  most  interesting  and  imjiortant  lield 
of  labor,  yet,  under  the  circumstances,  his  determination  Avas,  no 
doubt,  wise  and  judicious.  His  reluctance  to  change  of  location 
and  s^jhere  of  duty  was  characteristic  of  his  whole  ministerial  life. 

In  a  letter  to  his  friend.  Dr.  Alexander,  he  very  fully  states  his 
reasons  for  declining  the  call.     He  says  : 

"  I  refused  the  call  to  Annapolis,  as  yoit  have  heard  ere  this.  It  was  a 
flattering  mark  of  the  confidence  and  respect  of  the  place  of  my  birth.  I 
felt  it  to  be  such.  It  was  the  more  gratifying  because  it  was  unanimous  on 
the  part  of  the  people  and  the  vestry.  On  the  former  occasion  there  was 
opposition*  from  two  or  three  members  of  the  vestry.  I  knew  not  the 
cause,  although  from  my  high  regard  for  the  parties  I  respected  it. 

"  I  deemed  it  my  duty  to  decline  the  honor.  My  reasons  were  few  and 
simple,  and  my  action  iu  direct  collision  with  my  interest.  To  you  I  will 
state  my  reasons.  I  did  not  feel  at  all  afraid  of  opposition,  for  I  believe  that 
the  same  spirit  of  tirmness  and  conciliation  which  had  enaViled  me  to  triumph 
over  Low-Church  prejudices  here  would  carry  me  through  there.  Neither 
did  I  fear  the  critical  ])ropensities  of  the  people  :  for.  in  my  judgment,  they 
are  less  so  than  their  ueighViors.  But  I  was  afraid  that  I  might  not  do  justly 
by  those  who  were  matured  in  intellect  and  fijrmed  in  hal)it  when  /  irnx  a 
boy.  I  would  wot  that  their  Ijlocjd  should  be  on  me  in  the  last  great  day. 
And  the  younfj,  who  knew  me  when  a  boy,  I  was  fearful  would  merge  the 
priest  in  the  recollecti(m  of  the  boy.  I  could  not  endanger  their  welfare 
and  my  peace.  Besides  there  were  some  who  thought  I  was  anxious  for  the 
situation,  and  iu  all  probability  did  injustice  to  me  and  themselves  by  the 
unkind  suspici(3n.  I  wished  to  undeceive  them.  H<iw  long  I  shall  remain 
where  I  am  is  very  doubtful.  I  am  not  supported  and  have  very  laborious 
outdoor  work." 


*  Referring  to  the  vacancy  iu  St.  Anne's,  occasioned  by  the  death  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  McElhiney,  in  1841,  when  his  name,  by  some  friends,  was  brought 
before  the  vestry  for  the  rectorship. 


58  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   PINKNEY. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Ministry  in  Prince  George's.    Visit  to  Portsmouth  and  Boston. — 1846-51. 

During  the  next  six  yeaa-s  of  bis  ministry  iu  Piince  George's 
county,  there  are  not  many  incidents  to  record.  It  was  a  con- 
tinuously busy  life.  Of  his  strictly  official  and  ministerial  acts 
he  made  brief  record  ;  but  as  he  kept  no  private  diary  or  mem- 
oranda of  the  incidents  of  his  life,  it  is  only  here  and  there  that 
any  marked  or  interesting  occurrences  come  up  for  notice.  He 
seems  never  to  have  thought  that  any  future  occasion  -would  aiise 
for  this  detail  in  connection  with  a  biography  of  himself.  He 
made  no  copy  of  his  letters,  except  in  cases  where  official  duty  or 
important  business  requu-ed  it.  Those  to  his  friends  were  never 
of  an  elaborate  character.  They  were  very  numerous  and  were 
written  currente  calamo,  in  easy  and  glowing  terms,  full  of  senti- 
ment and  feeling,  and  always  rich  and  beautiful  in  then*  diction. 
He  was  ever  alert  to  think  and  feel  for  others,  especially  when 
any  good  fortune  befell  them,  or  any  sorrow  caused  by  sickness 
or  bereavement  overshadowed  them.  At  such  times  he  would 
promptly  send  to  them  the  tokens  of  his  love  and  remembrance  in 
some  short  letter  of  congratulation  or  condolence  often  accom- 
panied with  some  Uttle  book  or  memento.  Many  such  letters, 
dearly  prized  by  those  who  received  them,  have  come  to  hand, 
and  might  be  here  copied.  Some  of  these,  later  on,  will  be  given 
in  then-  appropriate  connection. 

When  occasions  arose  calling  for  any  grave  ministerial  counsel, 
or  for  declaiing  his  judgment  and  opinion  touching  any  imj^or- 
tant  doctrine  or  requh'ement  of  the  Church,  or  for  vindicating 
any  course  of  official  action  or  determination,  his  letters  are 
marked  with  force,  clearness,  and  decision.  Such  occasions  not 
infrequently  did  arise  in  his  later  experience  in  the  ministry  and 
afterwards  very  seriously  in  his  Ei:)iscoiiate. 

Sometimes  when  indulging  himself  in  poetic  comjDOsition  for 
recreation,  he  would  send  coj^ies  of  his  verses  to  his  mother,  for 
her  inspection  and  criticism.  At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1849 
he  wrote  some  verses  on  "  The  Old  Year,"  of  which  the  closing 
stanza  is  here  given,  liecause  his  mother  ventured  to  make  ujDon 
it  a  criticism  which  illustrated  her  cultured  and  discriminative 
poetic  taste : 

"A  ^,'iirlan(l  iiiatle  \\\>  of  the  evt'r<,'reen  leaf 
And  snow-flakes  that  ^'listen  in  softest  relief. 
Where  the  diamonds  that  sparkle,  not  dug  from  the  mine. 
Are  dew-drops  all  frozen  by  the  breath  of  the  wind." 


LIFE   OF    ItlSHoi'    IMNKNEY.  51) 

His  luotlier's  letter  is  as  follows  : 

"AxNAroLis,  .Itinuiiri/,  iHt'.l. 

"  My  Dear  Son  :  I  aiu  writing  this  letter  pretty  much  us  a  joint  eonecrn  ; 
the  fact  is,  I  am  too  siek  to  write.  Imt  enter  ui)on  it  in  the  hope  that  it  may 
rouse  me.  I  have  had  a  long  and  depressing  sickness — nothing  to  excitti 
apprehension,  but  enough  to  keep  me  from  enjoyment  myselt  or  from  min- 
istering to  the  enjoyment  of  others.  Your  sister  keeps  up  wonderfully,  and 
was  very  glad  to  get  such  kind  and  prompt  answers  to  her  letters.  Your 
letters  have  been  comforting  to  us. 

•'Now  for  your  poetry,  dear  William.  It  is  very  pretty,  and  the  piece 
which  you  say  is  prosy  I  cannot  criticise.     I  see  no  change  wanting  in  it. 

"In  "The  Old  Year,'  which  is  a  beautiful  piece,  the  two  last  lines  of  the 
sixth  verse  do  not  harmonize.  Do  not  think  I  am  for  sacriticing  sense  to 
sound,  but  still  I  must  have  harmony,  and  if  I  cannot  blend  that  with  sense 
I  give  up  the  idea.  I  suggest  an  alteration.  I  e.xpect  you  will  prefer  your 
own,  and  I  shall  not  wonder  if  you  do;  at  any  rate,  I  shall  not  a<lopt  an 
alteration  until  the  motion  is  seconded. 

"  Now  for  yours — 

"  '  Where  the  diamonds  that  sparkle,  not  <lug  from  the  mine, 
Are  dew-drops  all  frozen  by  the  l)reath  of  the  wind.' 

"  I  should  say.  still  preserving  your  meaning  : 

'' '  For  the  diamonds  that  sparkle  and  glitter  and  shine 
Are  dew-drops  fast  fi'ozen,  not  gems  from  the  mine.' 

'•  I  have  written  but  little  since  I  saw'  you — little  pieces  for  the  child.  My 
situation  has  not  admitted  of  it :  but  I  have  written  one  piece  which  I  myself 
like.  This  piece  I  wish  much  to  retid  to  you.  because  its  subject  was  the 
object  of  your  love.  It  is  the  history  of  little  Henrietta  Gwiun.  written  in 
the  ballad  style,  simple  as  it  can  possibly  be.  full  of  feeling — feeling  as  deep 
as  that  font  in  my  own  heart,  which  age  has  never  chilled.  How  fresh  and 
fragrant  in  memory  is  the  image  of  that  dear  little  grandchild.  The  one  we 
have  noir  is  lovely,  intellectual,  gifted  :  but  the  positif)n  in  which  they  stand 
is  different. 

••  The  piece  in  which  Fanny  N.  is  alluded  to  is  addressed  to  your  sister, 
on  '  The  Cemetery.'  She  had  been  walking  there  late  in  November,  and 
found  the  heart's-ease  blooming  on  Fanny's  grave.  A  white  rose  was  planted 
there.     I  sent  a  coiJy  to  her  mother. 

••  I  am  better,  but  still  feel  weak.  How  glad  I  should  have  been  if  you 
'ould  have  seen  how  hajipy  little  Amelia  is  with  tis  and  how  obedient  she  is 
to  every  direction.  She  is  full  of  life  and  sjjirits.  Slic  did  not  expei-t  any 
answer,  and  was  delighted  to  get  one. 

"  Your  affectionate  mother. 

■AMELIA  PINKNEY." 

The  auuiversary  of  his  38th  birthday,  on  the  17th  of  April,  18-4S» 
elicited  from  his  mother  a  very  touchiiio-  cono-ratiilatory  letter  in 
verse,  from  which  some  of  the  stanzas  may  be  given  : 

"  Priest  of  the  living  GOD.  my  son.  thou  art  ; 
I  trust  His  seal  is  stamped  tii)on  thy  heart  : 
Fearless  go  on,  whatever  ills  appear. 
Thy  aid  is  ready,  thy  Deliverer  near. 

Silver  and  gold  thou  niayst  not  have  to  give. 
On  frugal  means  thou  mayst  be  doomed  to  live  : 
But  thy  allegiance  to  the  King  of  Kings 
Secures  thv  title  to  all  needful  things. 


60  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PIXKNEY. 

Earthly  distinctions  thou  hast  set  at  naught, 
•  Or  hjn'g  ere  this  thou  hadst  in  cities  tauglit : 
But  where  thou  hiborest  many  })hiuts  of  grace. 
I  trust,  are  fitting  for  a  Heavenly  place. 

Some  trials  every  faithfiil  soul  must  find, 
'Till  the  pure  gold  is  from  all  dross  refined : 
But  all  those  trials  coming  from  above, 
The  soul  receives  them  as  the  pledge  of  love. 

Your  mother's  heart  rejoices  to-day, 
That  you  were  early  led  in  wisdom's  way ; 
Spurned  in  your  youth  the  blandishments  of  sin. 
That  you  the  priceless  pearl  of  peace  might  win. 

As  death  draws  near,  the  hopes  of  earth  decline, 
The  Christian's  prospects  then  more  clearly  shine  ; 
Delusive  pleasure  drops  her  mask  and  flies, 
The  Christian's  hope  is  anchored  in  the  skies. 

Then  thou  art  wise,  my  Willie,  tho'  thy  name 
May  ne'er  be  heralded  by  trump  or  fame. 
Let  but  thy  hands  be  clean,  thy  heart  be  pure. 
Constant  in  duty,  thy  reward  is  sure. 

Be  thou  obedient  to  thy  heavenly  call — 

A  day  is  coming,  when  the  Lord  of  all 

Shall  place  the  crown  upon  thy  favor'd  brow, 

And  say,  '  Thou  hast  been  faithful ;   enter  thou.' 

Birthday  of  yours  I  look  no  more  to  see  ;  * 

Then  oft  in  thy  petitions,  ask  for  me. 

That  on  my  spirit,  as  my  days  decline. 

The  rays  of  faith  and  hojje  may  brightly  shine." 

In  1849  lie  published  a  small  tract,  "  A  Plain  Appeal,"  addressed 
to  members  of  the  Methodist  communion.  Having-  been  con- 
nected with  that  body  of  Christians  for  a  season  before  his  admis- 
sion to  the  ministry  of  the  Church  and  being  much  thrown  with 
the  people  of  that  persuasion  in  his  pastorate,  he  hoped  by  an 
earaest  and  affectionate  "  Appeal "'  to  win  them  back,  or  at  least 
some  of  them,  to  the  fold  of  the  mother  Church  they  had  forsaken. 
He  took  for  his  text  on  which  he  based  his  appeal,  the  well-known 
declaration  of  "Wesley,  "  It  cannot  be  lawful  to  separate  from  the 
Church  of  England,  unless  it  be  unlawful  to  continue  in  it."  It  is 
not  known  that  the  appeal  produced  any  desired  results  :  and  the 
})ul)lication  is  here  referred  to  as  illustrative  of  the  vigilance  with 
which  he  was  seeking  to  do  the  Master's  work  on  any  line  where 
be  could  hope  to  tlo  good. 

In  June,  1840.  an  accident,  occasioned  by  a  fall  from  his  horse, 
was  serious  enough  to  cause  dislocation  of  some  of  the  bones  of 
his  right  hand.  It  made  it  necessary  for  him  to  go  to  Easton,  to 
be  under  the   surgical   care  of  his   brother.  Dr.  Ninian  Pinkney, 


*  Mrs.  Amelia  Pinkney  was  then  in  her  70th  year,  and  lived   ten  years 
longer,  dying  in  the  SOth  yi-ar  of  her  age. 


LIFE    OP    BISHor    riXKNF.Y.  HI 

at  that  time  not  ou  dut}'  in  the  Navy.  He  <,nveK  some  account  of 
its  treatment,  by  his  brother,  in  a  letter  to  his  wife.  Fortunately 
he  was  double-haucled ;  that  is,  he  could  use  and  write  with  his 
left  hand  almost  as  w(>ll  as  with  his  ri^-ht : 

■•  My  liiuiil  is  \vt'llnii,'li  usilcss.  It  was  a  sovovi'  dislocation.  The  swcUiii^^ 
slowly  subsides,  and  the  l)out's  art-  gradually  di'Vt'lopcd.  The  pain,  from 
which  I  suffered  a  good  deal  until  I  reached  Easton.  has  been  almost  dissi- 
l)ated  under  the  action  of  the  shower  bath,  applied  three  times  a  day,  and 
the  use  of  the  ointment.  But  for  the  splints  l)y  whi<'h  my  hand  is  guarded 
on  ])oth  sides,  I  think  it  not  improbable  that  ere  this  a  fresh  dislocation 
would  have  taken  place,  for  it  is  impossible  to  guard  against  involuntary 
motion  of  the  arm.  It  will  be  some  time  before  I  am  totally  relieved.  Niu- 
ian  is  all  attention.  Night  and  morning  he  comes  up  to  do  the  duty  of 
nurse,  is  so  gentle  in  wiping  the  hand  after  the  application  of  the  bath,  and 
in  e.\amining  the  bones  as  the  swelling  subsides.  *  *  *  jj,.  thinks  my 
hand  will  not  be  in  a  state  to  use  for  some  time,  and  will  require  close  at- 
tention. Still,  it  is  slowly  getting  better.  He  says  the  Ijones  at  my  time  of 
life  knit  slowly." 

This  accident  compelled  an  absence  from  his  parishes  of  several 
weeks.  It  g-ave  him  opportunity,  however,  for  pleasant  visits  to 
his  friends,  in  Easton,  and  Talbot  county,  and  to  his  wife's  rela- 
tives, the  Lowndes,  at  Miles  river,  and  the  Lloyds,  at  Wye. 

On  July  18,  184:9,  he  was  called  to  the  rectorship  of  Rock 
Creek  Parish,  in  the  District  of  Columbia ;  but  deemed  it  his 
duty  to  decline  the  call. 

In  February,  1850,  his  brother.  Surgeon  Ninian  Pinkney,  Avas 
ordered  to  the  United  States  ship  Saramic,  about  to  sail  from 
Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  and  Mr.  Pinkney  was  persuaded  to 
accompany  his  brother,  to  be  present  at  the  departure  of  the 
vessel  from  the  port.  So  strong-  were  his  local  and  home  attach- 
ments, that  he  needed  at  times  to  be  almost  forced  away  into  new 
scenes  and  associations.  He  was  absent  from  home  three  weeks. 
Of  this  visit  he  wrote  a  very  full  account  in  a  journal — quite  an 
unusual  thing  for  him  to  do — and  he  wrote  also  frequent  letters 
to  his  wife.  Both  the  journal  and  the  letters  show  how  thoroughly 
he  enjoyed  the  change  on  this  his  first  excursion  into  the  New 
England  States.  The  novelty  of  the  scenes  and  places  he  \isited 
greatly  interested  him.  He  was  much  im2:)ressed  with  the  rapid 
advances  which  those  States  were  making  in  wealth,  commerce, 
culture,  and  social  progress.  Upon  his  arrival  in  Portsmouth,  he 
was  the  recipient  of  many  attentions  and  courtesies  from  officers 
of  the  Navy,  and  particularly  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Burroughs,  by 
whom  he  and  his  brother  were  most  hosi:>itably  entertained.  The 
acquaintance  thus  formed  with  Dr.  Burroughs  was  the  l)eginning 
of  a  very  endearing  friendship  between  them.  He  had  o])por- 
tunity,  also,  of  meeting  qtiite  a  number  of  the  more  jirominent 
clergy  of  the  Church  in  New  England,  and  on  several  occasions, 
by  invitation,  preached  in  their  churches. 


62  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

During-  his  sojourn  in  Portsmouth  he  made  several  visits  to 
Boston.  His  letters  to  his  wife  from  both  cities  are  full  of  o-raphic, 
and  even  minute,  description  of  all  that  he  saw,  and  of  the  persons 
with  whom  he  became  acquainted.  He  tells  of  "  the  kindness 
received  above  anything  he  ever  expected  North,  and  fully  equal 
to  the  most  cordial  and  warm-hearted  Southern  refinement."  He 
even  o-ives  her  an  accoimt  of  the  menu  at  the  houses  where  he 
Avas  hospitalily  entertained :  and  he  quite  elaborately  describes 
all  the  apartments,  with  their  furniture,  from  the  kitchen  and  the 
laundry  to  the  attic,  of  the  great  hotel  where  he  was  stopping. 

Immediately  upon  his  arrival  at  Portsmouth,  Mr.  Pixkney  wrote 

to  his  wife  as  foUows  : 

"Portsmouth.  Fehriuiry  25,  1850. 

"My  Dear  Betsey  :  I  seem  to  be  a  great  way  off  from  my  sweet  home  and 
its  many  invaluable  privileges.  We  have  just  reached  our  destination,  and 
I  hasten  to  tell  you  that  through  the  blessing  of  Providence  we  arrived  in 
safety,  after  a  very  jjleasaut  and  delightful  journey.  I  will  leave  the  recital 
of  all  the  incident's  of  the  journey  until  I  retiirn  and  read  you  my  journal. 
"SVe  spent  Sunday  in  Boston  and  were  c^uartered  at  the  most  magniticent 
hotel  I  ever  entered :  nothing  in  the  United  States  to  surpass  it.  I  heard 
Eev.  Wm.  Woart  in  the  morning  and  Kev.  Wm.  Adams  in  the  afternoon,  and 
was  heard  myself  in  the  evening :  lights  so  dim  from  some  derangement  in 
the  gas  that  I  had  to  guess  my  way  a  good  part  of  the  time.  I  really  fear 
that  I  shall  disgrace  Maryland,  though  Ninian  sayshenever  heard  me  preach 
better,  and  Dr.  D.  also  ex^Dressed  himself  pleased — in  all  probability  the  too 
jjartial  judgment  of  brotherly  affection  and  loyal  regard.  I  felt  very  much 
embarrassed,  although  the  congregation  was  very  still  and  attentive.     *    *    * 

"We  have  a  very  pleasant  room,  and  I  hope  my  sojourn  here  will  be  not 
withoiit  interest  and  instruction.  Ninian  enjoys  my  being  with  him.  and 
that  adds  unspeakaljly  to  the  pleasure.  Mr.  Woart  gave  me  a  kind  letter  of 
introduction  to  Dr.  Burroughs,  and  I  shall  call  upon  him  with  Xiniaii  in  the 
coi;rse  of  the  day.  The  ship's  crew  are  not  yet  in  attendance,  so  that  in  all 
probability  his  return  to  Washington  will  be  delayed  toy  some  weeks.  On 
my  return  I  shall  stop  in  Boston  long  enoiigh  to  see  everything  of  interest, 
and  Mr.  Woart  will  accompany  me.  The  weather  has  been  uncommonly 
fine.  To-day  there  was  every  appearance  of  a  snow-storm,  but  it  is  now 
breaking  off.  It  is  as  mild  in  Boston  as  in  Washington  :  there  is,  however, 
a  great  deal  of  ice  here. 

"  I  hope  you  all  continue  well.  Take  good  care  of  yourself,  as  I  am  not 
present  to  whisper  in  your  ear  a  kindly  warning.  O,  how  I  wished  for  you 
in  Boston  I  It  is  a  grand  city,  with  the  exception  of  narrow  streets.  You 
would  be  delighted  with  the  l)eautiful  country,  showing  everywhere  the 
triumphs  of  art  and  industry.  There  is  but  one  exception  to  my  pleasure 
(mooting  your  absence),  and  that  is,  that  I  am  compelled  to  keep  Lent  as  I 
would  not  wish  :  travelling  and  fasting  do  not  suit  well  together.  Tell  Miss 
F.  I  am  much  comforted  by  the  rctlectiou  that  she  is  with  you  to  share  your 
solitude  and  watch  over  you,  as  I  know  her  affection  prompts  her  to  do  with 
gi-eat  care. 

"  There  is  more  beauty  in  Boston  than  any  other  city  I  ever  visited — real, 
rich  beauty  meeting  you  in  almost  every  direction  :  more  politeness  in  chiirch 
than  I  ever  experienced  elsewhere :  so  much  refinement  in  the  mode  of 
exhibiting  it.  It  is  a  vigorous  and  healthy  beauty,  the  result  of  much  exer- 
cise and  proper  clothing  in  the  open  air.  Give  my  love  to  our  Sister  N.  and 
to  O.  :  also  to  Miss  T.  Love  to  the  servants.  I  hope  they  will  all  be  mind- 
ful of  your  comfort.     Tell  L.  and  S.  they  must  be  very  good  and  attentive 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKXEY.  03 

to  yoix  till  I  get  back.     Pay  my  respect  to  Wye,  the  nol)le  Ne\vf<nin<lliiii<l 
(log.     I  have  seen  nothing  like  him  since  I  left.     He  is  the  Daniel  Wehsti-r  of 
his  species.     I  am  looking  for  ii  letter  from  you  with  great  anxiety  uiul  ph-as- 
ure.     Write,  and  direct  to  Portsmouth  for  the  present. 
"Atfectionatelv. 

"  W.  P." 

While  it  is  quite  interesting-  to  read  tliese  details  as  given  in  his 
letters  and  more  fully  in  his  journal,  it  is  unnecessary  to  introduce 
here  any  copious  extracts.  Since  then  so  familiar  have  we  Ijecome 
by  facilities  of  travel  and  frequent  intercommunication  witli  the 
progressive  develoj^ment  in  wealth  and  luxury  of  every  part  of  the 
Union,  that  we  can  hardly  enter  into  the  feelings  with  which, 
near  forty  years  ago,  a  Southern  gentleman  of  culture  would  view 
the  great  commercial  metropolis  of  the  country  and  \'isit  the  city 
of  Boston,  then,  as  uow,  boasting  of  itself  to  be  the  seat  and  centre 
of  our  highest  intelligence  and  civilization.  His  views  and  reflec- 
tions would  seem  almost  too  vi^^.d  and  intense  to  us  in  our  larger 
experience  in  these  days  of  over-much  travel.  Thoroughly  South- 
ern in  his  feelings  and  sti'ong  in  his  devotion  to  his  native  State, 
he  was  at  the  same  time  broad  and  national  in  his  sympathies, 
and  proud  to  call  himself  a  citizen  of  the  one  common  country 
under  the  Union  of  the  States.  He  was  prepared,  therefore,  to 
gather  both  pleasure  and  instruction  from  his  visit. 

Two  extracts,  however,  from  his  journal  may  he  given,  because 
so  happily  expressive  of  his  ardent  patriotism  and  devotion  to  the 
Union  of  the  States. 

The  spirit  of  abolition  wafi  then  raging  with  more  or  less  of 
fierce  vindictiveness  in  the  New  England  States  :  and  while  3Ir. 
PixKNEY  reprobated  it  in  the  strong  terms  he  uses,  he  could  not 
but  see  that  it  was  straining  to  their  utmost  tension  the  Ijonds  of 
the  one  national  life,  and  might  ultimately  result  in  rending 
asunder  the  Union  of  the  States. 

While  in  Boston  he  visited  Faneuil  Hall,  and  in  the  intensity 
and  ardor  of  his  patriotic  feelings,  he  writes  : 

"  As  I  stood  npon  the  spot  where  the  first  and  greatest  men  have  spoken 
in  defence  of  freedom's  noblest  cause,  I  could  not  but  wish  that  the  dis- 
unionists,  JSforth  and  South,  who  are  madly  seeking  to  dim  the  stars  of  our 
American  galaxy,  or  sever  the  Ijond  which  by  uniting  constitutes  them  the 
milky  way  of  the  world's  freedom,  could  but  catch  the  s))irit  that  animated  the 
elder  statesmen  of  the  Kepublic  and  is  now  blazing  forth  with  such  over- 
powering splendor  from  New  England's  greatest  oivator  in  the  councils  of  the 
nation.  I  never  felt  more  fitUy  the  enlargement  of  this  true  American  feel- 
ing, which  knows  no  sectional  limits  and  recognizes  no  ])arty  banners,  but 
takes  in  the  whole  Union,  than  when  I  stood  in  Faneuil  Hall  and  at  the  l)ase  of 
Bunker  Hill.  We  may  weakly  attempt  to  weigh  the  value  of  that  I'nion,  the 
North  against  the  South,  btit  we  shall  never  be  able  to  compute  the  loss. 
Once  Ijreak  the  bond  and  there  is  no  power  left  to  construct  the  homogenity 
of  Confederated  States.  I  loathe  the  principles  of  the  man  who  can  hazard 
the  expression  of  a  thoitght  or  feeling  adverse  to  the  ITnion.  I  distrust  his 
capacity  for  the  nice  an(l  delicate  duties  of  a  statesman  of  the  present  times, 


64  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKXEY. 

aud  would  send  bim  back  to  tbe  study  of  the  moderation  and  patriotism  of 
the  early  founders  of  our  Government." 

During  his  sojourn  in  Boston  he  visited  all  the  public  buildings, 
the  State  House,  and  the  General  Assembly  then  in  session,  the 
old  State  House,  and  the  Exchange,  Cambridge,  Harvard  Uni- 
versity, and  the  environs  of  Boston,  of  all  which  he  gives  graphic 
descriptions.  He  was  singularly  impressed  with  the  sight  of  the 
very  tree  lieneath  whose  shadow  Washington  first  unsheathed 
his  SAvord  for  the  liberty  of  the  colonies.  He  thus  describes  his 
imiiressions  : 

'•We  saw  on  our  way  to  the  cemetery,  as  on  our  return,  the  very  tree 
where  'NVashinLCtou  first  unsheathed  his  sword  in  defence  of  his  country's 
liberty.  It  is  a  noble  Amerlcfui  elm.  Was  it  a  mere  accident  that,  in  the 
multitude  of  trees  that  offered  to  the  illustrious  patriot  soldier  a  sheltering 
shade,  he  sliould  have  selected  tbe  proud  American  elm  as  the  one  for  tbe 
first  unsheathing  of  his  sword  :  or.  was  it  not  rather  the  type  aud  pledge  of 
his  country's  emancipation  from  the  thraldom  of  foreign  misrule  V  I  cannot 
easily  descrilie  my  feelings  when  I  thought  of  the  signal  event  which  this 
tree  commemorates.  There  is  a  strange  and  indescribable  thrill  that  shoots 
through  the  heart  whenever  yow  gaze  upon  nature's  attestation  to  the  spirit- 
stirring  events  of  the  past.  It  sjjeaks  more  eloquently  than  marble.  The 
very  winds  seem  to  whisper  it  forth  through  the  rustling  leaves,  aud  each 
giant  limb  and  delicate  tendril  appear  to  be  living  witnesses.  In  Annapolis, 
tbe  place  of  my  birth,  was  the  sword,  thus  boldly  drawn,  sheathed  as  soon 
as  the  liberty  of  the  land  was  fully  vindicated  and  established  :  aud  here,  a 
stranger  in  Boston,  I  am  gazing  upon  the  very  spot  where  it  was  drawn  forth 
to  wave  over  fields  drenched  with  blood  and  red  with  clotted  gore.  Old 
Annapolis  is  not  behind  Boston  in  the  thrilling  scenes  of  the  Revolution. 
If  tbe  tea  burning  in  the  latter  gave  the  first  impetus  to  that  bravest  and 
greatest  struggle  iuv  freedom,  it  miist  not  be  forgotten  that  tbe  patriots  of 
Annapolis  had  anticij^ated  tbe  stirring  event  by  consigning  to  the  waves  the 
same  luxury,  and  burning  the  vessel  in  which  it  was  imported  :  and  if  Wash- 
ington blew  on  Boston  heights  tbe  first  bugle  blast  of  freedom,  in  Annapolis 
he  laid  down  his  military  command,  and  gave  to  tbe  world  the  first  most 
perfect  picture  of  pure  and  disinterested  patriotic  devotion." 

The  like  patriotic  sentiments  were  even  more  strongly  expressed 
in  the  "  Thanksgiving  Sermon  "  which  Mr.  Pinkney  preached  in 
Bladenslntrg  on  the  28tli  of  November  of  this  year.  The  sermon 
was  published,  largely  circulated,  and  much  admu-ed  for  its  force 
and  eloquence.     The  following  extracts  are  given : 

'•  I  will  not  attemi)t  to  draw  the  picture  of  the  scene  that  would  follow 
uiion  the  bn-aking  \\\\  and  disruption  of  tbe  Union.  I  have  no  pen  or  taste 
for  the  odious  ;ind  distasteful  task.  I  would  rather  exi)atiate,  on  this  bright 
Thanksgiving  festival,  upon  its  past  wonderful  achievements  for  good,  aud 
tbe  still  more  wonderful  achievements  it  promises  for  the  future ;  tbe  elements 
of  power  it  possesses,  together  with  its  wonderfully  rajjid  growth;  and,  for 
what  it  has  d<me  and  is  still  capable  of  doing,  I  would  implore  you  to  trea.siii-e 
it.  Never  sufler  its  advantages  to  be  canvassed  in  your  presence,  or  its  value 
to  Ijf  weighed.  He  must  lie  an  unsafe  and  dangerous  counsellor  who  would 
TiiWy  xerU'iiiutl  feelings  against  the  harmony  of  the  system  and  call  up  tbe 
evil  passions  and  prejudices  of  the  North  and  South  to  jircy  upon  the  vitals 
of  tbe  country.  The  United  States  is  our  blood-bought  heritage.  It  was 
ours  from  the  beginning.      It  is  ours  still ;   and  GOD  has  confirmed  tlie  gift 


LIFE    OF    lUSHOl'    I'INKNEY.  (i;> 

by  deeds  of  power  aud  almost  inivaeles  of  lucrcy.  There  was  no  North,  no 
South,  when  our  patriot  forefathers  sat  in  sweet  brotherhood  by  the  couiicil 
fires  of  freedom.  Every  heart  was  large  enough  to  embrace  the  whoh-,  and 
contented  with  nothing  less." 

A^ain  he  says : 

"  He  that  has  read  the  past  with  the  eye  of  intelligent  forecast  must  know 
that  this  Union  of  States  has  a  mission  to  fullil — a  mission  co-e.\tensive  with 
the  world  and  coeval  with  time.  She  is  a  sort  of  irorld-triinU'e,  not  nn-rely 
charged  with  tlic  tilling  up  the  measure  of  her  own  individual  glory,  but  the 
diffusing  and  spreading  iibroad  of  her  enlightened  principles  the  world  over. 
Thesparkdf  freedom  tliat  hud  wellnigh  gone  out  in  the  tyranny  and  oppres- 
sion of  the  Old  World  was  wafted  across  the  Ocean  to  this  Western  wilder- 
ness ;  and,  thanks  to  a  kind  Providence,  it  found  its  way  without  difficulty  to 
our  shores,  fanned  into  increasing  brightness  by  the  very  breezes  that  seenied 
to  threaten  its  extinction.  And  shall  we,  the  degenerate  sons  of  an  illustrious 
race,  put  it  out  ere  half  itx  niixulini  ix  (imompUshed  ?  Shall  we  suffer  the  night 
of  disunion  to  envelop  in  horrible  darkness,  the  very  darkness  of  desjjair, 
this  In'ight  inheritance':'  N(j,  never  I  Love  of  our  common  country,  forbid 
it  I     Hope  and  harbinger  of  the  world's  peace  and  glory  forbid  it  I  " 

Nor  did  Mr.  Pinkney  ever  afterwards  change  or  abandon  these 
views  of  the  inestimable  vahie  and  the  supreme  mission  of  the  Union 
of  the  States.  "When  the  terrible  Civil  War  came  on,  ten  years 
later,  no  man  de})lored  its  occurrence  more  than  he  ;  for,  at  the 
time,  he  and  many  others  thought  and  Ijelieved,  however  the  con- 
flict might  terminate,  there  could  no  more  be  in  the  future  such 
Union  of  the  States  as  had  existed  in  the  past  under  the  provis- 
ions of  the  Constitution. 

Mr.  Pinkney  returned  in  March  of  this  year,  1850,  from  his  trip 
to  the  New  England  States,  to  renew  with  fresh  ^•igor  and  ardor, 
his  domestic  and  parochial  duties.  Very  soon  after  his  return, 
the  shadow  of  a  deep  grief  fell  upon  the  hai^py  household  at 
Blenheim.  Miss  Anne  Lloyd  Lowndes,  the  only  sister  of  his  wife, 
and  her  life-long  companion,  was  called,  in  the  early  summer  of 
this  year,  to  her  rest  in  Paradise.  She  was  a  lady  of  singular 
attractions  in  person,  manners,  and  character,  devotedly  pious, 
and  as  gentle  and  lovable  as  any  human  being  could  be.  The 
affliction  was  peculiarly  distressing  to  Mrs.  Pinkney,  for  there 
were  no  children  in  the  family,  and  her  husband  was  much 
away  in  pastoral  duty  and  when  at  home  much  absorbed  in  his 
studies.  She  had  ever  found  in  this  sister,  from  whom  she  had 
never  been  separated,  the  loving  and  congenial  companion  in 
all  her  duties  and  pleasures. 

However,  ever  buoyant  in  his  happy  temperament,  Mr.  Pinkney 
went  on  as  usual  in  his  studies  and  parish  ministrations. 

One  of  the  most  touching  incidents  of  his  pastoral  life  in 
Prince  George's  county  occurred  in  1851.  It  was  occasioned  l)y 
an  accident  that  happened  a  few  years  before  to  a  dear  young 
member  of  his  Bible  class,  at  Beltsville,*  and  which  brought  on 

*  Emma  Ordella  Holtzman. 


66  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    PIXKXEY. 

au  illness,  that  lasted  for  five  long  years,  of  great  and  prostrate 
suftering,  terminating  at  last  in  the  death  of  the  sufferer.  During 
this  whole  period  Mr.  Pinkney  watched  over  her  and  cared  for 
her  as  tenderly  as  if  she  had  been  his  own  dear  child.  It  is  but 
one  instance,  out  of  many,  to  show  with  what  unwearjdng  love  he 
devoted  himself  in  pastoral  ministrations  to  the  sick  and  the 
suffering  under  his  charge. 

After  her  decease,  Mr.  Pinkney  i:»ublished  a  brief  memoir-  of  this 
dear  child  of  the  Chiu'ch,  and  graphicallj'  described  her  sufferings, 
and  beautifully  portrayed  her  character  and  piety.  The  volume 
was  entitled  "  A  Flower  of  Faith  :  " 

"  On  Sunday,  the  17th  August,  18.51,  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  was  ex- 
pected to  administer  the  Apostolic  rite  of  confirmation,  and  her  name  was 
enrolled  on  the  list.  Although  not  more  than  thirteen  summers  had  passed 
over  her,  I  felt  that  she  would,  if  spared,  adorn  the  doctrine  she  professed. 
On  that  day,  however,  she  was  doomed  to  disappointment,  for  the  Bishop 
was  confined  by  indisposition,  and  coiild  not  come.  I  continued  my  care 
of  her,  and  multiplied  my  earnest  covmsels,  until  the  2()th  of  October,  when 
this  precious  lainb  renewed  her  baptismal  vow,  and  received  the  blessing  of 
the  laying  on  of  hands.  The  day  was  inclement — it  rained  :  and  never  shall 
I  forget  the  sweet  expression  of  her  countenance,  as  she  informed  me  she 
was  going  to  church  ;  for  in  my  solicitude  I  called  by  her  residence,  fearing 
lest  the  weather  would  prevent  her  attendance,  and  yet  trembling  lest  she 
should  enjoy  no  other  opportunity,  if  this  were  lost.  It  was  a  most  interest- 
ing and  solemn  service.  The  congregation  was  small,  but  there  was  not  one 
listless  soul  in  the  midst.  All  hearts  were  absorbed  in  the  deed  that  was 
to  be  then  and  there  transacted.  Fathers  and  mothers,  with  their  beloved 
children,  were  grotiped  in  prayer  near  the  holy  altar.  Three  little  girls,  the 
oldest  not  less  than  fourteen,  the  youngest  not  less  than  thirteen,  stood 
up  to  renew  their  baptismal  vow,  and  profess  allegiance  to  the  reeking  cross 
— companions  in  age,  in  near  neighborhood,  in  kindred  associations,  in  rec- 
iprocity of  pious  feeling :  my  little  helpless  suffei-er  was  one  of  the  three 
Dressed  in  white,  leaning  upon  her  staff,  she  came  meekly  forward,  and  by 
the  side  of  her  mother  and  grandmother  she  stood,  for  she  could  not  kneel. 
and  was  with  them  there  confirmed.  At  the  same  time  she  ate  of  the  bread 
and  wine,  the  Body  and  Blood,  in  the  Holy  Eucharist :  and  O.  who  will 
doubt,  that  He  who  took  little  children  in  His  arms,  and  blessed  them,  and 
who  took  this  little  girl  at  seven  years  of  age,  and  blessed  her,  throt;gh  stif- 
feriug :  took  her  at  fotirteen,  when  His  work  of  suffering  was  accomplisheil. 
and  gave  her  to  eat  the  bread  of  eternal  life.  It  was  a  day  ever  to  be  remem- 
bered by  me.  Many  eyelids  were  bathed  in  tears.  A  solemn  awe  filled  the 
house.  The  place  and  the  season  were  both  peculiarly  calculated  to  excite 
our  interest.  The  sere  and  yellow  leaf,  and  the  deeji  stillness  of  a  sjjot 
consecrated  to  prayer,  in  the  densest  solitudes  of  Nature,*  were  types  of  the 
flower  that  was  even  fading  on  our  sight ;  and  the  holy  rite  and  the  blessed 
coninmnion  of  the  Body  and  Blood  were  eloquent  pleaders  of  a  life  beyond 
death — the  only  one  that  deserves  to  be  called  life." 

To  complete  this  interesting  sketch  it  may  be  added  that  very 
soon  the  end  came.     It  is  thus  described  by  Mr.  Pinkney  : 

"  I  sat  by  her  to  the  last,  commended  her  soul  to  GOD  in  the  hour  of  her 

♦This   service  was   held   in   the  old  "  Piunt  Church,"  located   in  dense 
woods,  and  some  miles  fi-om  Beltsville. 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PIXKNEY.  (>l 

departure,  saw  her  last  soft,  deep-ilrawu  breath,  and  then  chised  her  i-yes 
with  my  owu  hands." 

He  was  never  deterretl  from  such  pastoral  offices  to  the  sick 
by  any  fears  of  contagious  en-  infectious  tlisease.  He  bad  Httle 
tbougbt  of  self  in  bis  niiuistcrial  labors.  He  bad  acquired  so 
mucb  practical  experience  in  attendance  upon  tbe  sick  tliat  be 
became  quite  a  skilful  nurse,  and  was  always  ready  to  render 
serxice  in  tbat  cai)acity  to  a  sick  parisbioner.  At  tbe  bedside  be 
was  as  patient,  attentive,  and  gentle  as  a  woman. 

Wben  not  engaged  in  study  or  active  pastoral  work,  Dr.  Pinkxey 
was  ever  busy  witb  bis  i>en.  preparing  sermons,  of  wbicb  be 
always  bad  several  fresb  ones  ready  for  use :  or  writmg  letters, 
and  sometimes  seeking  relaxation  in  writing  minor  poems,  to 
wbicb  from  bis  li\ely  fancy  be  was  mucb  inclined. 

During  tbe  same  vear,  ISol.  be  publisbed  a  pampblet,  entitled 
"  A  Letter  to  tbe  Rev.  Clement  M.  Butler,  D.  D.,  liector  of  Trinity 
Cburcb,  "NVasbingtou.  D.  C,  in  review  of  •  Old  Trutbs  and  New 
Errors,"  publisbed  l)y  Dr.  Butler,  in  part,  '  to  commend  tbe  Cburcb 
to  tbe  consitleration  of  persons  wbo  come  to  tbe  Capital  from 
remote  parts  of  tbe  country.' "  Dr.  Pinkney  tbougbt  tbat  tbe 
tendency  and  eftect  of  tbe  book  would  be  to  weaken  public  confi- 
dence in  tbe  cbaracter  and  claims  of  tbe  Apostolic  mmistry  of  tbe 
Cburcb.  His  object  was  to  vindicate  tbese  claims  by  a  calm  and 
logical  argument.  His  pampblet  was  written  in  no  controversial 
spmt,  and  is  tbrougbout  fair  and  dignified  in  tone  and  expression. 
He  firmly  and  tborougbly  believed  in  wbat  is  termed  "  Tbe 
Apostolic  Succession."  It  was  under  tbe  conviction  tbat  sucb 
was  tbe  divinely  constituted  order  of  tbe  ministry  tbat  first  led 
bim  to  seek  orders  under  tbe  Episcopate  of  tbe  Cburcb  :  and  be 
never  afterwards  wavered  in  tbat  conviction.  An  extract  from 
bis  publisbed  letter  to  Dr.  Butler  is  bere  given  : 

"  Allow  me  now  to  ask  why  the  Apostolic  office  should  be  deemed  incapable 
of  transmission  by  descent  ?  What  is  there  to  show  that  it  was  desiijned  t<> 
be  merely  perscjual  and  temporary  ?  I  propound  these  ()uestions  the  more 
confidently,  because  I  am  satisfied  that  upon  investigation  it  will  Ije  found 
that,  so  far  from  being  incapable  of  lieing  transmitted  as  you  imagine,  it  was 
upon  its  very  face  designed  to  be  perpetuated,  and  not  intended  to  expire 
with  the  first  chosen  depositories.  In  St.  Matthew,  x.xviii  :  18,  19,  we 
have  the  great  Apostolic  commission,  expressed  in  language  perfectly  free 
from  ambiguity,  as  it  fell  from  the  lips  of  the  ascending  Saviour.  It  was 
delivered  at  a  moment  of  thrilling  interest,  when  the  liishop  of  Sovds  was 
about  to  leave  bodily  His  Diocese,  the  world,  in  charge  of  those  who  untler 
Him  shoiild  feed  it  with  food  convenient,  and  rule  it  with  Godly  discipline  : 
'  All  power  is  given  unto  me  in  heaven  and  earth.  Go  ye,  therefore,  and 
teach  all  nations,  l)aptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son, 
and  of  the  Holy  Ghost  :  teaching  them  to  observe  all  things  whatsoever  I 
have  commanded  you ;  and,  lo,  I  am  with  you  alway.  even  to  the  end  of  the 
world.'  It  was  to  the  eleven  that  these  words  were  spoken  by  our  Li)rd. 
There  is  much  significance  and  emphasis  in  the  words  that  preceded  His  gift 
of  authority  and  grace,  'AH  power  is  given  unto  me  in  heaven  and  earth." 


68  LIFE   OF   BISHOP    TINKXEY. 

He  was  just  sending  t\>rth  Apostles  to  rule  in,  aud  govern,  aud  feed  His 
clnirch :  aud  He  recalls  to  their  recolleetiou  the  fact  that,  iu  so  doing.  He 
was  biit  exercising  the  unlimited  jxjwer  vested  iu  Him  as  the  Head  of  the 
Church.  '  Go  ye.  therefore,  and  teach  all  nations,  baptizing  them,  «fcc.,  aud, 
li«,  I  am  with  you  alway.  even  to  the  end  of  the  world.'  Here  is  a  gift  of 
power  not  iiersonal,  but  from  the  very  nature  of  the  promise  that  accom- 
panied it.  designed  to  be  perpetuated.  The  Apostles  soon  died :  and.  of 
course,  the  pledged  i)resence  of  the  Lord  Jesus  with  them  in  the  executiou 
of  their  great  Apostolic  commission,  could  be  realized  bnt  by  those  to  whom 
they  should  entrust  the  same  high  and  dreadful  function.  There  is,  also,  a 
pregnant  significance  in  those  other  words.  '  As  my  Father  sent  me.  m  send 
I  you.'  Our  Saviour  was  sent  with  power  to  commission  and  send  others  ; 
and  .w  irith  like  jnnrer  to  perpetuate  did  he  send  forth  the  Twelve.  May  I 
not  then  sum  up  all  iu  the  language  of  the  admiralile  Bishops  Potter  and 
Taylor,  and  say,  '  that  the  offices  Apostolic  consisted  in  preaching  the  Gospel, 
administering  the  sacraments,  maintaining  the  order  and  discipline,  peace 
and  unity.'  True  it  is,  there  were  some  things  extraordinary  which  belonged 
to  the  Apostles,  viz..  immediate  mission  and  miraculous  operation.  But 
these  were  rather  qualiticatious  that  the  better  fitted  them  for  the  ofifice. 
They  were  not  even  exclusively  Apostolic  jirivileges.  The  Apostolate  was 
called  a  bishopric.  The  ordinary  Apostolic  offices  were  of  standing  itse,  as 
needful  now  as  when  St.  Paul  and  St.  Peter  moved  among  men.  And  these 
have  been  perpetuated,  transmitted  to  our  day,  to  be  handed  down  to  the 
latest  generation." 

Ten  years  later,  in  1861,  Dr.  Pinkney  felt  called  upon  to  address 
another  published  letter  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Butler,  under  the  title 
of  "  The  Road  to  Rome."  in  revieAv  of  a  sermon  by  Dr.  Butler, 
preached  before  the  students  of  the  Theological  Seminary  of 
Yii'ginia,  and  subsequently  published.  In  his  letter  Dr.  Pinkxey 
vindicates  liimself  aud  those  in  the  Church  occupying-  like  ground 
with  himself  from  any  •'  Romanizing  tendency ""  in  teachings,  which 
he  shows  to  be  consonant  with  the  Church  standards  and  offices 
and  in  harmony  with  those  of  the  oldest  and  ablest  defenders  of 
the  Church.  His  letter  very  ably  points  out  the  Scriptural  and 
primitive  character  of  the  Church  in  her  Apostolic  ministry,  in 
the  sacraments,  and  in  the  liturgic  and  standard  offices  of  the 
Church. 

These  and  similar  tracts  and  pamphlets,  which  he  occasionally 
published  in  defence  of  Church  doctrine  and  order,  were  not  con- 
troversia),  and.  although  fresh,  able,  aud  i)ertinent,  did  not  attract 
much  attention  and  ceased  to  be  of  permanent  interest  or  value. 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP    I'lNKNEY.  (')!» 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Life  of  His  Uncle — Visits  to  Niaoara  and  the  St.  Lawrence — Efforts 
IN  Behalf  of  the  Colored  People — Call  to  the  Epiphany.     lH53-'5(i. 

AVhile  cBgaged  in  his  active  ministerial  duties.  Dr.  Pinkxey 
found  time  to  write  and  prepare  for  publication  the  life  of  his 
distinguished  uncle  and  namesake.  This  work  he  accomplished 
in  1858.  Under  the  impression  that  full  justice  had  not  Ijeen 
done  to  his  uncle's  character  and  memory,  he  undertook  the  work 
of  writing'  the  life  for  the  purpose  of  supplementing  defects  in  all 
previous  memoirs  and  of  giving  to  the  pul)lic  what  he  conceived 
to  he  juster  and  fairer  views  of  William  Pinkncys  eminent  services 
in  the  profession  of  the  law  and  m  the  high  offices  of  state  he  was 
called  to  fill.  In  the  judgment  of  some  this  may  have  seemed  an 
unnecessary  woi-k,  for  it  was  universally  admitted  that  his  luicle 
stood  forth  before  the  world  as  one  of  the  most  distinguished  of 
our  American  jurists  and  orators,  and  eminent  for  the  ability  and 
success  with  which  he  had  tilled  the  high  positions  of  ^Minister 
Plenipotentiary  in  the  courts  of  Great  Britain  and  Russia.  The 
life  written  by  "Wheat on,  the  records  of  our  American  jurispru- 
dence, and  the  popular  estimate  and  verdict  of  the  country  had 
established  the  reputation  of  Pinkuey  upon  a  durable  basis  of 
honor  and  renown.  Still  Dr.  Pixkxey  believed  that  there  were 
parts  of  his  uncle's  life  not  fully  understood  and  not  duly  appre- 
ciated, and  that  in  justice  to  his  memory  he  ought  to  pre})are  tlie 
work.  He  may  have  felt  that  in  the  fervor  and  on-rush  of  our 
American  thought  and  life  it  might  be  difficult  to  awaken  inter- 
est in  the  character  and  ser^"ices  even  of  one  who  had  been  so 
distinguished  as  his  uncle,  at  a  period  when  both  the  men  and  the 
doings  had  passed  into  the  settled  history  of  the  country.  But 
he  determined  to  undertake  the  work,  and  he  prosecuted  it  with 
great  care  and  vigor  in  the  midst  of  his  active  parochial  duties. 
He  used  well  the  materials  at  his  command,  and  by  diligent 
research  he  brought  out  facts  in  his  uncle's  life  and  services  to 
the  country  hitherto  little  known,  or  not  fairly  presented.  What- 
ever mayl)e  the  estimate  by  the  present  or  any  future  generation 
of  the  work,  it  will  l)e  regarded  as  a  just  and  lieautiful  tril)ute  l)y 
the  nephew  to  the  memory  of  an  inicle  in  whose  reputation  he 
felt  an  honorable  and  conimenda1)le  pride. 

The  work  was  well  received  l)y  the  public  and  conuuended  by 
the  press  generally.  In  only  one  instance,  it  is  l)elieve(l.  were  any 
severe  strictures  passed  upon  it :  and  these  were  at  once  met  by  a 


70  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   PIXKNEY. 

letter  to  the  publisher,  entitled  *•  The  Reviewer  Reviewed,''  in 
which  Dr.  Pinkney  vindicated  himself  by  referring  to  the  paucity 
of  his  materials  and  by  setting  forth  the  grounds  of  his  just 
eulogy  of  the  subject  of  the  memoir. 

Upon  its  publication  he  received  many  very  commendatory 
letters  from  distinguished  persons,  clergymen,  lawyers,  and  states- 
men. It  was  peculiarly  gratifpng  to  him  to  know  that  in  his 
estimate  and  portraiture  of  the  life  and  services  of  his  uncle  he 
was  fully  sustained  by  the  judgment  of  such  eminent  jurists  as 
Chief-Justice  Marshall  and  Justice  Story. 

"When  afterAvards.  in  1878,  Bishop  Pixkxey's  attention  was 
drawn  to  some  strictures  upon  his  uncle's  memory,  contained  in 
anecdotes  related  by  Harvey,  in  his  ••  Reminiscences  of  AVebster," 
respecting  some  differences  of  a  personal  and  professional  char- 
acter alleged  to  have  taken  place  between  Webster  and  his  uncle — 
to  the  great  disparagement  of  the  latter — he  showed  in  a  pamphlet 
of  remarkable  vigor  and  power  that  the  incidents  related  could 
not  have  occurred  and  were  utterly  unfounded  and  unworthy  of 
belief.     This  pamphlet  attracted  considerable  attention. 

The  publication  of  the  Ufe  of  his  vmcle.  and  of  this  pamphlet, 
subsequently  Avritten,  brought  him  into  very  pleasant  acquaints 
ance,  and  occasional  correspondence,  with  such  prominent  persons 
as  Charles  O'Conor.  Esq.,  of  New  York,  and  the  Hon.  Robert  C. 
Winthrop.  of  Massachusetts — from  both  of  whom  he  received 
marked  attentions  and  most  flattering  commendations. 

After  the  comj^letion  of  this  work,  comprising  a  volume  of  moi"e 
than  400  pages,  and  requiring  much  labor  and  research,  he  felt 
the  need  of  change  and  recreation,  which  were  hapj^ily  secured, 
during  the  summer  of  1853.  by  a  risit,  in  companionship  with  his 
brother.  Surgeon  Ninian  Pinkney,  and  their-  little  niece,  to  the 
cities  of  Buffalo  and  Albany,  to  Niagara  Falls,  and  on  the  Hudson 
and  St.  Lawrence  rivers. 

His  letters  to  his  wife' are  full  of  the  tenderest  home-feeling, 
and  are.  graphically  descriptive  of  the  emotions  which  the  novel 
sights  and  scenes,  with  then-  historic  associations,  kindled  up  in 
his  soul.  So  familiar,  since  then,  has  the  whole  region  travelled 
over  become,  that  it  is  unnecessary  to  give  any  copious  extracts 
from  those  letters.  Being  at  Albany  on  Simday,  he  preached  in 
the  morning,  at  the  invitation  of  the  Rev.,  now  Bishop,  Kipp. 
He  had  also  the  pleasure  of  meeting  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sprague,  of  the 
Presljyterian  church,  with  whom  he  had  held  previous  corresj^ond- 
ence,  and  with  whom  he  maintained  very  pleasant  relations  to 
the  close  of  Dr.  Sprague's  life.  So  impressed  was  he  with  the 
beauty,  grandeur,  and  sublimity  of  Niagara,  and  so  thrilled  was 
he  with  the  emotions  and  historic  associations  which  travel 
on  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  over  the  rapids,  and  among  the  Thou- 
sand Isles  excited,  that  language  seems  almost  to  fail  him  in  his 
descriptions. 


LIFE    ol'    lUSHdl'    liNKNFA'.  71 

Upon  his  return  home  he  wrote  a  descriptive  2)oeni.  of  some 
stanzas,  on  ''  The  St.  Lawrence,"  and  a  shorter  one  on  "  Niagara."' 
This  hist  is  here  f^iveu  : 

NIAGARA. 

I've  heard  the  mighty  thuiuleis  roll 

Across  the  angry  sky  : 
I've  seen  the  over-iirchiug  bow 

As  swept  the  storm-cloud  by. 

But  ne'er  before  did  deafening  roar 

My  weary  senses  drown, 
As  downward  rushed  Niagara's  flood, 

The  terrible,  j^rofouud. 

I  stood  l)eside  the  frenzied  wave. 

Absorbed  with  wondrous  awe, 
And  3i;st  above  the  rising  spray 

A  beauteous  rainbow  saw. 

Here  was  a  temple  fit  indeed 

His  burning  shrine  to  be. 
Whose  praises  never  cease  to  ring 

Throughout  immensity. 

Above,  the  shining,  silvery  cloud, 

Below,  the  quaking  ground. 
While  poured  the  pealing  organ  forth 

Its  music  tones  around. 

The  burning  bush  that  Moses  saw 

Mount  Sinai's  brow  of  flame. 
Did  scarce  more  vividly  reveal 

Jehovah's  might  and  name. 

That  burning  bush  tho'  not  consumed, 

Shall  meet  the  eye  no  more  ; 
And  Sinai's  thunders  cease  to  roll 

Its  flaming  summit  o'er. 

But  still  the  bold  Niagara 

With  tierce,  impetuous  swell. 
Does  lift  its  voice  to  God  on  High, 

And  of  His  glory  tell. 

And  as  I  stood  beside  that  flood 

Which  nothing  can  withstand, 
I  felt  the  power  of  Him  who  holds 

That  flood  within  His  hand. 

The  river  glides  in  beauty  on 

From  Erie's  swollen  tide, 
'Mid  banks  of  green  and  jetting  rocks 

Our  uirn  and  Britain's  pride. 

Till  drawing  near  the  dread  abj'ss 

In  raging  tempest  tost, 
'Mid  wreaths  of  foam  and  eddies  wild. 

It  is  in  darkness  lost. 


72  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKXEY. 

Just  oil  the  verge  of  leaping  o'er 

The  massive  wall  of  rock, 
And  as  you  gaze  in  silent  dread 

To  feel  the  fearful  shock. 

It  falls  ill  grandeur,  and  in  grace 

On  Britain's  rocky  shore, 
'Tis  there  the  beautiful  and  grand 

Do  side  by  side  repose  : 
The  two  conimiugled  to  the  view 

Their  wondrous  charms  disclose. 

lu  1855  there  appears  to  have  been  a  movement  in  Prince 
George's  county  to  pro-vide  a  missionary  for  the  colored  people 
of  the  county.  It  was  a  measure  which  many  had  much  at  heart, 
and  the  prosecution  of  which,  it  was  thought,  was  seriously  called 
for  by  the  spiritually  neglected  condition  of  those  people. 

The  movement,  if  it  did  not  originate  with  the  late  Dr.  Harvey 
Stanley,  of  Holy  Trinity  Parish,  was  actively  promoted  by  him  in 
the  hope  of  its  ultimate  success.  The  committee  charged  with  the 
matter  appointed  Dr.  Pinkxey  the  missionary,  and  requested  him 
to  undertake  the  work. 

The  clergy  of  the  Church  in  the  county,  in  the  absence  of  any 
organized  system  by  the  Church  in  her  corporate  caj^acity,  felt 
called  upon  to  do  something  within  the  borders  of  their  own 
county  in  behalf  of  the  colored  people. 

The  servants  immediately  connected  with  the  households  of  the 
farmers  and  planters  were  not  only  kindly  treated  and  trained  in 
all  good  domestic  service,  but  enjoyed,  with  rare  excej^tions,  some 
advantages  of  religious  instruction,  especially  in  those  households 
where  the  heads  and  members  were  earnest  and  devout  Christians  ; 
and  there  were  many  such  households  connected  with  the  Church. 
But  for  the  great  body  of  the  slaves,  who  lived  in  separate  quar- 
ters on  the  plantations,  and  by  whom  all  the  agricultural  work 
was  performed,  there  were  no  systematic  and  efficient  measures 
adopted  for  then-  religious  care  and  instruction.  Instances  of 
severe  and  cruel  treatment  were  rare :  and  when  they  did  occur 
it  was,  perhaps  with  some  exceptions,  without  the  knowledge  or 
api)roval  of  the  masters  and  mistresses.  It  is  true  that  in  all  the 
churches  there  were  some  portions  of  the  buildiiig  set  apart, 
either  in  the  gallery  or  ui  seats  near  the  entrance,  for  the  colored 
people,  but  the  provisions  were  not  adequate  to  the  needs,  nor 
were  the  slaves  generally,  though  permitted  and  invited,  much 
disposed  to  avail  themselves  of  the  pri^'ilege. 

To  initiate  and  make  effective  some  measures  for  their  religious 
instruction  was  a  work  of  great  difficulty  and  delicacy,  rendered 
the  more  so  by  the  fact  that  the  growing  abolition  agitations  at 
the  North,  attended  more  or  less  with  dh-ect  or  indirect  interfer- 
ences with  the  institution  of  slavery  at  the  South,  were  creating 


LIFE    OF    lilsiKil'    I'INKNFY.  73 

uneasiness  on  the  ])Ri-t  of  the  slaveholders,  iiiid  occasioning- 
embairassments  to  the  clergy  in  their  efforts  for  the  i-eli}^'iou8 
welfare  of  the  slaves. 

In  its  early  days  something'-  in  this  behalf,  and  i)rol)al)ly  as  much 
as  the  then  existing-  state  of  things  pei-niitted.  had  been  acconi- 
])lished  by  the  Methodist  movement.  The  intense  convictions  of 
the  eai-ly  Methodists  led  them  to  such  efforts  as  were  practicable 
and  allowable  in  l)ehalf  of  the  slaves  ;  and  although  there  was 
nnich  excitement  and  even  extravagance  in  their  exposition  of 
religion,  it  was  yet  on  the  whole  salutary  in  its  effects  upon  their 
characters  and  lives.  No  one  could  listen  to  their  fervent  pray- 
ings and  singing  in  their  meetings  without  having  his  heart 
touched  with  a  deep  religious  sym])athy. 

Dr.  Pixkney's  mother,  in  her  ]\IS.  reminiscences  of  her  early 
life,  gives  some  account  of  the  labors  of  those  early  ^Methodists 
among  the  slaves  on  her  father's  farm  on  the  Eastern  Shore.  As 
descri])tive  of  a  state  of  things  long  passed  away  and  no  more  to 
recur  in  our  land,  the  following  passages  are  given  : 

"  I  have  a  picture  before  ray  raiucVs  eye  of  the  quarter  where  our  shvves 
lived,  and  of  the  scenes  presented  there.  We  had  an  okl  cohered  woman  who 
hehl  a  place  in  our  faraily  like  that  of  the  Virijinia  Mammy,  and  to  i)ay 
'  Mammy  Charity  '  a  visit  was  always  considered  a  privilege  by  the  children 
of  the  family.  Her  husband  belonged  to  a  neighlior  (jf  my  father's,  and  they 
had  a  fine  set  of  children.  Regularly  she  had  her  dinner-table  set  for  the 
Sunday  re])ast,  at  which  time  her  husband  was  her  guest.  She  was  cjuite  in 
advance  of  her  age.  Many  a  glass  of  ])ersinnn<m  beer  have  I  drank  from  the 
hand  of  that  old  woman.  Around  this  quarter  were  little  gardens  or  truck 
patches  for  each  family,  and  there  they  might  be  seen  working  their  vege- 
tables every  Sabbath  morning,  and  in  the  afternoon  dressed  in  their  Sunday 
clothes  before  the  open  doors. 

"  None  but  those  who,  like  myself,  have  witnessed  it  can  imagine  the 
change  effected  in  the  actions  and  haliits  of  these  ignorant  people  after  the 
Methodists  entered  the  neighborhood  on  their  errand  of  love.  Soon  from 
those  humble  dwellings  came  the  voice  of  prayer  and  the  hymn  of  praise. 
True  it  was  that,  mixed  with  their  religious  exercises,  was  a  wildness  and 
excess  which  startled  the  sober  Christian,  but  still  it  gave  them  a  higher 
stand  in  the  scale  of  existence.  They  learned  the  blessed  truth  that  JESl'S, 
the  Saviour  of  sinners,  died  for  the  bond-slave  and  the  untutored  African  as 
well  as  for  the  wise  and  the  noble  ones  of  earth ;  and  they  rejoiced  in  the 
hope  of  everlasting  life.  Hove  the  Church  of  my  fathers,  in  whose  doctrines 
are  embodied  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints.  I  love  lier  time- 
honored  services,  whose  beauty  and  appropriateness  none  need  deny,  and 
therefore  T  would  be  found  iinder  what  I  consider  the  safe  shelter  of  her 
wings  ;  but  it  does  not,  therefore,  follow  that  I  must  underrate  the  s»'rvices  of 
those  who,  differing  from  me,  are  still  seeking  to  save  souls  and  worshii)i)ing 
according  to  the  dictates  of  their  conscience.  I  speak  what  I  know,  and  I 
testify  what  I  have  seen,  when  I  say  that  I  have  heard  the  voice  of  prayer 
and  of  singing  sounding  from  the  huts  of  our  servants,  who  had  hitherto  been 
living  without  GOT)  in  the  world,  and  with  uo  more  thought  for  their  souls 
than  the  beasts  that  perish." 

Dr.  PiNKNEY.  after  due  consideration,  declined  to  assume  the 
responsible  and  difficult  charge  to  which  he  was  invited  by  his 


74  LIFE    OF    BISHOr    TINKNEY. 

clerical  bretlireu  iu  the  county :  and  tlie  whole  measure  fell 
throu^rh.  owing-  chiefly  to  the  want  of  the  needful  unanimity  of 
co-ojieration  iu  the  several  parishes. 

While  the  matter  was  pending  Dr.  Pinkxey  wrote  to  his  friend, 
Dr.  J.  H.  Alexander,  asking-  his  advice.  The  whole  letter  is  here 
given,  because  it  indicates  how  much  interest  was  felt  at  that 
jieriod  in  the  religious  welfare  of  the  colored  people,  and  also 
l)ecause  it  shows  how  warm  were  his  own  feelings  and  how  just 
and  discrimmating-  were  his  views  in  regard  to  the  measure.  The 
fact  that  he  always  had  in  his  own  churches  some  colored  com- 
mvmicants  shows  his  concern  for  the  spu'itual  -welfare  of  those 
people.     His  letter  is  as  follows  : 

•  -June  30,  1855. 

"  Dz.iK  Alex.\xdek  :  I  am  iu  need  of  c-uimsel,  aud  therefore  naturally  turn 
to  you,  the  earliest  and  wisest  of  my  friends.  The  committee  of  missions 
for  Prince  George's  coimty  very  unexpectedly  appointed  me  to  take  charge 
of  the  cok)red  pet>2)le  of  the  eoiinty.  Iu  order  to  put  you  in  full  possession 
of  the  case  it  will  be  necessary  to  state  that  the  clergy  and  laity  were  unau- 
imoias  in  the  opinion  that  the  mission,  which  is  one  of  difficulty  and  extreme 
delicacy,  could  be  entrusted  to  me.  The  former  extended  the  fresh  ingress 
and  egress  within  their  parochial  cin-es,  and  the  latter  their  entire  and  fullest 
confidence.  I  assure  you  I  was  never  more  taken  by  surprise  and  never  felt 
more  mortified  in  my  life,  because  of  the  painful  consciousness  of  my  utter 
unworthiness  of  any  such  proof  and  exjDression  of  confidence  and  respect. 
The  Bishop,  to  add  to  my  embarrassment,  said  as  much  as  any  other  in 
approval  of  the  selection.  I  told  them  I  was  not  at  all  fit  for  the  place  :  that 
I  felt  I  was  not :  that  I  possessed  not  the  qualities  which  they  in  their  kind- 
ness had  imputed  to  me  :  but  that  I  would  consider  the  matter,  and  if  I 
dared  to  assume  the  position  I  could  not  dare  declining  it.  I  feel  so  now ; 
and  I  want  your  counsel,  removed,  as  you  are,  from  the  circumstances  that 
are  calculated  to  bias  my  judgment  and  that  of  my  brethren. 

"  For  my  own  part,  I  am  free  to  confess  that  I  do  not  believe  that  I  possess 
that  peculiar  adai^tatioii  to  the  work  which  is  necessary  to  any  considerable 
success.  In  iinion  with  my  professional  studies  I  have  cultivated  as  much 
^s  I  cotild  literary  pursuits,  and  twenty  years'  exercise  of  such  a  ministry 
would  not  be  the  best  school  for  acquiring  the  skill  to  conduct  a  work  like 
this.  Their  insti-uction  could  be  efficiently  carried  on  in  but  one  way — 
earnest,  animated,  extempore  catechetical  teaching,  in  which  the  first  prin- 
ciples of  the  Gospel  would  be  brought  out,  expounded,  and  unfolded  in  a 
manner  to  interest  the  heart  and  instriict  the  mind.  They  are  a  peculiar 
race,  and  require  a  jieculiar  training.  There  must  V»e  food  for  the  imagination, 
excitement  for  the  feelings :  at  the  same  time  that  there  must  be  solid,  and 
substantial,  and  continuous  church  teaching.  It  seems  to  me  that  the  man 
to  suit  them  should  not  be  possessed  of  too  much  refinement  of  feeling  or 
delicacy  of  sentiment.  He  should  he  a  bold,  ga-(the(id.  impetuous,  glowing 
speaker,  who  withal  was  prudent,  self-possessed,  and  patient  in  both  investi- 
gation and  the  power  to  explain  his  thoughts  to  others.  The  physical 
exercise  would  be  very  severe.  To  travel  a  large  county  iu  all  kinds  of 
weather  on  horseback  would  call  for  stout  powers  i>f  endurance.  On  the 
other  hand,  it  is  all  important  to  interest  the  lay  influence  in  favor  of  the 
work  and  to  keep  the  clergy  free  from  suspicion  and  distrust,  which  any  but 
a  jiidicious  man,  who  po.ssessed  their  fullest  confidence,  would  be  likely  to 
excite.  Y(m  would  Ije  surprised  at  the  interest  manifested  in  my  decision 
of  the  matter :  and  yet  it  is,  I  fear,  more  fi-om  personal  regard  than  a  sober 
judgment  of  qualifications,  though  there  are  several  most  able  to  counsel  and 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    liNKNKV.  75 

wise  to  determine.     The  Bishop  has  his  heart  deeply  set  uijou  it.     Mrs.  P. 

and  Dr.  P n  are  as  much  opposed  to  it.     The  Doctor  thiuks  it  the  most 

iucoiif^ruoiis  idea  iniaginahle. 

"  I  have  thus,  dear  Ah'.xander,  argued  both  sides,  aud  put  you  in  po.ssessiou 
of  all  the  facts  essential  to  a  sound  judj^ment  of  the  case.  What  do  you 
think  it  best  for  me  to  <lo  ?  Give  nie  your  opinion  dispassionately.  You  know 
me,  perhai)s,  as  well  as  any  one  on  earth,  save  my  weakness  and  worthless- 
ness,  which,  I  fear,  few  know  but  myself,  and  even  many  of  them  you  know  ; 
and  you,  of  all  others,  ])erliaps.  are  qualilied  to  help  me  to  a  safe  and  sound 
conclusion.     Let  mc  hear  from  yoii  at  your  earliest  convenience.      *     ♦     ♦ 

"  ]Mr.  L.  is  very  grateful  to  you  for  your  kindness  to  him,  and  really,  if 
you  could  see  the  pleasure  your  mode  of  doing  thinfix  afl'ords  him,  you  wt)uld 
be  more  than  rejjaid  for  your  troixble.     Love  to  all  from  all. 
"  Y()\ir  friend, 

••W.  PINKNEY. 

".John  H.  Alex.\nder,  LL.  D." 

It  is  not  known  what  counsel  Dr.  Alexander  gave  to  his  friend 
in  this  case ;  but,  as  Dr.  Pinkney  declined  to  accept  the  position, 
it  is  to  be  presumed  that  the  advice  given  was  against  its  assump- 
tion. 

In  1856,  for  the  first  time,  he  was  elected  by  the  convention  of 
the  Diocese  as  one  of  the  clerical  delegates  to  the  General  Con- 
vention which  met  that  year.  He  duly  attended  its  sessions  in  Phila- 
delphia, and  was  much  interested  in  its  proceedings.  In  one  of 
his  letters  to  his  wife  he  says  of  himself  :  '•  I  never  felt  how 
insignificant  I  was  before — a  total  stranger  in  the  midst  of  the 
distinguished  sons  of  the  Church." 

He  continued  to  be  sent  as  a  delegate  to  all  subsequent  meet-- 
ings  of  the  General  Convention,  up  to  the  time  when,  b}'  his  con- 
secration to  the  Episcopate,  he  became  permanently  a  member  of 
the  Hovise  of  Bishops.  He  rarely  took  part  in  the  debates  of  the 
body ;  and  was  one  of  those  whose  influence  is  oftentimes  more 
felt  for  their  little  sj^eaking. 

It  appears  that  on  the  KJth  of  October,  185G,  Dr.  Pinknky  was 
called  to  the  rectorship  of  the  parish  of  the  Epiphany,  Washing- 
ton city,  vacated  hj  the  resignation  of  the  Eev.  J.  "W.  French, 
D.  D.,  who  had  been  appointed  professor  and  chaplain  at  the 
United  States  Military  Academy  at  West  Point.  The  parish  of 
the  Epiphany  had  been  organized  under  the  ministrations  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  French.  Starting  at  first  in  lS-42  as  a  mission  church,  it 
grew  so  rapidly  under  his  able  and  faithful  labors,  that  in  the 
year  following  it  was  duly  organized  as  a  ]iarish,  and  received  into 
the  union  by  the  Diocesan  Convention.  Since  then  its  steady 
growth  has  been  such  as  to  give  it  the  prominent  distinction  of 
being  the  foremost  parish  in  the  diocese.  The  committee  of  the 
vestry,  appointed  to  inform  Dr.  Pinkney  of  his  election  to  the 
rectorship,  say : 

"The  position  to  which  you  are  invited  offers,  it  is  believed,  a  wide  mid 
inviting  field  of  usefulness  as  well  as  an  agreeable  association  with  a  liar- 


76  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    TINKNEY. 

monious  and  united  congregation.     The  rector's    salary    is  two  thousand 
dollars  a  year,  i^ayable  in  advance." 

Dr.  PiNKXEY  had  concluded  to  accept  the  call  to  this  important 
city  charge,  and  was  on  the  eve  of  writing  his  letter  of  acceptance, 
when  at  the  last  moment  he  changed  his  purpose.  He  little 
thought  at  the  time  that  in  a  year  or  so  later  he  would  be  called 
upon  to  assume,  and  be  led  to  accept,  another  rectorship  in  the 
same  city,  far  less  inciting  and  important. 

He  refers  to  this  call  to  the  Epiphany,  and  his  final  action  in 
the  matter,  somewhat  at  length  in  the  letter  following  : 

"  Hev.  Dr.  Pinkney  to  Dr.  J.  H.  Alexander. 

"  "VV.vsHiNGTON,  D.  C,  Jnnwiry  12,  1857. 

"  Dear  Alexander  :  I  must  begin  my  letter  by  wishing  you  and  yours  a 
Happy  New  Year  and  many,  many  returns  of  it :  and  when  I  think  of  the 
promising  groujD  of  bright  ones  around  you,  making  your  hearth-stone  the 
scene  of  the  softest  and  sweetest  affection  of  the  heart,  I  can  but  congratu- 
late you  upon  the  goodness  of  GOD  in  the  years  that  are  past,  and  in  the 
swiftly  passing  hours  of  the  present.     You  have  much  cause  for  gi'atitude. 

"  That  I  have  not  written  before  is  attributable  in  part  to  a  more  than  ordi- 
nary press  of  duty,  and  in  part  to  the  fear  that  you  in  common  with  some 
other  of  my  friends  might  be  disposed  to  censure  my  judgment  and  condemn 
my  decision  in  the  case  of  the  E])iphany,  Washington  city.  When  I  parted 
from  you  I  considered  the  matter  tixed,  and  so  it  was.  I  had  taken  leave  of 
my  congregation  nearest  home,  and  was  on  the  eve  of  writing  my  letter  of 
acceptance,  biit  when  the  earnest  request  of  the  yoiinger  portion  of  my  little 
fold,  that  I  would  not  desert  them,  was  made,  and  the  request  was  pressed 
home  by  the  elder  and  more  exjDerienced,  my  heart  was  touched  and  my 
resolution  shaken.  I  saw  the  sacritice  I  must  make  as  clearly  as  any  one 
could  do  ;  but  I  thought  that  perhaps  in  this  age  of  changes,  when  the  pas- 
toral tie  is  not  so  duly  considered  as  it  should  be,  I  could  do  as  much,  if  not 
more,  good  by  deciding  against  my  interest,  than  in  any  other  way.  So  I 
resolved  to  stay  a  little  while  longer.  I  have  a  very  laborious  field  to  culti- 
vate, with  but  little  of  the  outward  stimulus  which  so  lightens  labor  and 
cheers  one  on.  But  still  the  care  of  a  few  souls  is  a  burden  that  may  tax  the 
energies  of  the  strongest,  and  is  far  above  any  claim  I  have  to  the  high  office 
I  bear.  The  good  old  fathers  of  the  Church  seem  to  stimulate  me  in  my 
studies,  and  more  than  repay  me  for  the  privations  I  endure.  Quiet  and 
harmony  are  with  me  where  I  am.  When  I  sat  a  few  days  ago  in  St.  Paul's 
and  saw  the  meagre  attendance  upon  one  of  the  high  week-day  festivals,  I 
felt  more  reconciled  to  my  lot.  But  enough  of  this,  lest  I  weary  you  with 
what  is  personal  to  myself  and  not  of  any  manner  of  moment  to  you." 

Writing  to  his  mother  on  the  same  subject,  he  says  : 

"  In  reference  to  the  call  to  Washington,  my  dear  mother,  I  desire  to  say 
one  word.  I  saw  as  clearly  as  any  one  the  worldly  sacritice  it  would  require 
in  declining  it :  and  although  I  acted  for  the  best"  I  am  not  so  wedded  to  my 
own  views  as  to  repudiate  altogether  the  idea  that  I  may  have  erred.  One 
thing  I  was  well  aware  of,  and  that  is,  that  my  decision  was  against  the 
interests  that  for  the  most  part  sway  us  in  such  decisions.  I  was  in  the  midst 
of  a  community  whose  love  and  confidence  I  possess.  The  expressions  of 
concern  from  all  classes  and  shades  of  opinion,  as  well  as  from  my  own 
peculiar  flock,  were  such  as  to  gratify  me  exceedingly.  Twenty  years  had 
not  exhausted  my  hold  upon  this  people.  They  are" kind  and  considerate, 
and  in  the  last  year  we  have  been  more  than  usually  blessed.     They  are 


LIFE    OF    lUSHOP    riNKNEY.  77 

poor,  weak  in  numbers,  iiml  cainiot  offer  any  inducements  to  stran^jers  to 
come  amon^^  them.  The  tiehl  otters  labor,  hard  hibor,  and  but  little  else. 
I  thouj^ht  I  could  do  more  j^ood  by  an  act  of  disinterested  attachment  to 
this  i)astoral  connection.  Two  thousand  ilollars  *  a  year  decline<l  I  I  hope 
I  am  fully  equal  to  my  jjresent  field.  Whether  I  should  be  for  one  all  unlike 
it,  is  not  so  evident.  Where  I  am  I  have  concord  and  peace.  As  for 
influence  I  have  more  than  I  deserve.  With  nothing  to  commend  me  but  the 
desire  to  do  my  iluty,  and  with  talents  more  hii^hly  thou^lit  of  than  tliey 
merit,  without  effort  of  mine  I  have  been  selected  for  the  most  imi)ortan't 
positions  in  the  Church.  To  say  that  this  call  wa.s  not  most  gratifyint^, 
coming  as  it  did,  would  be  foreign  to  the  truth.  At  one  time  I  had  deter- 
mined to  go. 

"  Afl'ectionatelv,  vour  son. 

"WILLIAM  PINKNEY." 

Experience  shows  how  perplexinf,'  aiKl  difficult  it  ofttiines  is 
in  such  cases  to  determine  as  to  the  hne  of  duty.  The  j^astoral 
relation  is  of  too  sacred  a  character  to  be  either  hastilj'^  formed  or 
severed.  'WTien  the  call  to  a  new  charge  came,  as  it  always  did 
in  Dr.  Pixkney's  case,  without  any  agency,  direct  or  indirect,  of 
his  own,  the  question  with  him  assumed  a  gravity  which  caused 
him  great  anxiety  and  embarrassment.  Frequent  were  the  occa- 
sions when  he  had  to  consider  and  determine,  in  these  respects, 
the  matter  of  his  duty  to  the  Church. 

At  the  Diocesan  Convention  of  1856  Dr.  Pinkxey  was  appointed 
chairman  of  the  committee  "  on  the  state  of  the  Church,"  with 
du-ections  to  report  at  the  next  convention.  This  arrangement 
gave  the  committee  time  for  a  full  examination  of  the  impor- 
tant matters  that  properly  come  before  it  for  consideration,  and 
for  the  presentation  of  views  and  recommendations  as  to  the 
condition  and  welfare  of  the  Church.  Heretofore  this  committee 
had  been  expected  and  called  upon  to  report  to  the  convention 
at  which  it  was  appointed  before  its  adjournment.  Hence  there 
were  only  a  few  hours  out  of  the  three  busy  days  of  the  session  to 
examine  the  parochial  reports  and  make  suggestions  bearing  iqion 
the  practical  work  of  the  Church  in  the  diocese.  A  V)rief  and 
partial  report  was  presented  by  the  chairman  to  the  convention 
of  1856,  but  the  more  complete  report  was  to  be  made  and  was 
made  to  the  convention  of  the  next  year,  1857.  It  is  to  be  found 
in  the  Journal  of  the  Diocese  for  that  year.  As  the  rejiort  was 
signed  only  b}'  the  chairman  and  was  presented  by  him.  with  the 
concuri'ence  of  the  other  members,  it  is  believed  to  have  been 
entirely  his. 


*In  1856,  !|2,000  was  a  sum  the  magnitude  of  which  we  fail  to  realize  in 
these  days  of  vast  fortunes  and  high  salaries.  To  a  man  of  a  generous 
nature,  whose  chief  luxury  was  giving,  it  was  a  tempting  prospect  :  and  J)r. 
PiNKNEY  mi;st  have  had  many  a  pleasant  vision  of  what  he  could  do  for 
others  and  the  Church  with  such  a  magnificent  income.  No  increase  of 
income  in  later  years  seems  to  have  enlarged  the  very  limited  scale  of  his 
expenditures  upon  himself. 


78  LIFE    OF    15ISH0P    PINKNEY. 

It  is  one  of  the  most  exliaustive  and  elaborate  reports  ever 
made  to  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese  by  •'  the  committee  on 
the  state  of  the  Church,"  and  covers  nine  closely-printed  pages 
of  the  journal  of  the  convention.  It  is  too  long  to  be  introduced 
into  this  biography,  nor  can  an}'  portions  of  it  be  here  inserted 
to  sufticiently  indicate  its  character  and  value.  Special  pains  were 
taken  to  collect  all  statistical  facts  bearing  upon' the  condition  and 
work  of  the  Church.  And  the  report  accordingly  covers  the  eccle- 
siastical movement  of  the  diocese  for  the  year  past ;  j^resents  the 
EiDiscopal  acts ;  states  the  clergy  and  lay  movement ;  gives  the 
statistics  of  baptisms,  confirmations,  communicants,  marriages, 
and  burials ;  enumerates  the  parochial  and  Sunday  schools ;  states 
the  contributions  for  all  chui-ch  purposes,  the  church  edifices, 
with  their  chai^els,  the  families,  the  real  estate  in  glebes  and 
parsonages,  the  revenues,  and  clerical  salaries  ;  and  is  replete 
throughout  with  reflections  and  suggestions  of  great  value. 

At  this  same  convention  of  1857  he  offered  a  resolution  which, 
with  its  preamble,  deplored  "  the  feeble  development  of  the  pas- 
toral office  as  greatly  detrimental  to  the  growth  of  the  Church,'" 
and  aimed  to  secure  relief  "  by  the  reduction  of  the  size  of 
parishes."'  The  resolution,  with  its  preamble,  was  referred  to  a 
special  committee,  of  which  he  was  named  as  the  chaii'man,  to 
consider  and  report  upon  the  subject.  He  had  evidently  pre- 
pared beforehand  an  elaborate  report  upon  the  matter  of  his 
resolution.  The  report  was  read  and  ordered  by  the  convention  to 
be  printed  in  the  jovu-nal.  No  action  was  taken  upon  the  matter, 
and  could  not  weU  be,  because  the  Church  in  the  diocese  could  not, 
without  a  large  increase  in  the  number  of  pastors,  a  more  liberal 
jjro^asion  for  their  support,  and  a  change  in  the  law  of  parochial 
organization,  hoj^e  at  all  to  reach  the  desu'ed  end. 

His  rei)ort.  however,  showed  how  deep  and  strong  were  his 
convictions  that  the  pastor  should  be  brought  nearer  to  his  people 
in  aU  those  sacred  offices  which,  outside  of  the  pulpit  and  the 
public  ministrations,  can  be  made  so  influential  for  their  good. 
He  was  himself  one  of  the  most  exemplary  and  faithful  pastors  ; 
and  his  twenty  j'ears"  experience  in  the  charge  of  two  large  rural 
l^arishes  had  taught  him  what  a  powerful  influence  for  good  the 
pastoral  office  can  be  made  in  the  work  of  the  ministr}"-,  in  con- 
nection with  the  earnest  and  faithful  preaching  of  the  Gospel. 
He  deemed  it  important  that  the  pastor  should  be  brought  into 
close  touch  with,  especially,  the  younger  members  of  his  flock. 
Hence  he  was  usually  present,  for  at  least  a  brief  while,  in  the 
Sunday-school,  would  go  from  class  to  class  with  some  kindly 
words,  and  at  times  take  part  in  the  closing  exercises.  Years 
afterwards  letters  came  to  him  from  those  who  in  youth  had  been 
under  his  pastoral  guidance,  gratefully  expressive  of  their  appre- 
ciation of  the  instructions  and  loving  counsels  they  had  received 
from  him. 


LIFE    01''    lllSIKH'    riNKNEY.  7'.> 

He  was  sometimes  consulted  by  persons  outside  of  his  s])iiitii!il 
cure,  upon  questions  of  religious  fiiitli,  or  of  duty  under  doii]»tfMl 
or  trying  circumstances.  To  a  youujj^  friend  wlio  seemed  to  feel 
constraint  and  eml)arrassment  in  consultin<>'  witli  her  rector  upon 
subjects  of  personal  religion,  he  sends  the  following  letter  : 

"  BlaPENSBUIUJ.    IX'i't. 

'•To  Miss  C.  J. 

"  Dear  C  :  You  may  think  I  luivr  made  hut  a  jxidi-  icturn  t'<>r  the  conlidfiu-e 
expressed  in  your  last  swH'et  and  interestinLC  letter  :  hut  then  yours  is  not 
the  spirit  to  ,iudi:;e  harshly  of  the  motives  or  deeds  of  others,  especially 
where  their  time  is  not  always  at  their  eommand. 

"To  hegiu  :  You  should  resolve  and  strive  to  (jverc<jme  your  feelini^  of 
eniharrassmeut  and  eonstraiut  in  reference  to  your  most  excellent  and  dev(jted 
pastor.  He  is  GOD'S  own  chosen  and  commissioned  shepherd  to  you.  He 
hreaks  to  you  the  bread  of  eternal  life,  and  to  him  you  must  look  with  all 
the  confidence  and  affection  of  a  lamb  of  the  fold  for  <,'uidance  in  ditticulty, 
and  comfort  in  sickness  and  doubt.  Y'ou  must  express  to  him  all  you  feel, 
and  you  will  meet  with  abundant  sympathy  and  judicious  counsel.. 

"  i  was  delii,dited  to  find  that  your  thoUi,dits  were  so  much  occupied  with 
the  subject  of  your  soul's  welfare,  and  I  hope  you  will  keep  alive  your 
solicitude  on  this  the  most  vital  and  important  of  all  subjects.  There  is  no 
dani^er  of  our  permitting  it  to  absorb  too  much  of  our  time  or  thouirhts. 
The  danger  lies  all  the  other  way.  Devotion,  by  which  I  mean  the  concen- 
tration of  all  our  powers  and  faculties  in  the  service  of  our  Divine  LOlil),  is 
a  rare  attainment  in  the  experience  of  our  day  :  and  sad  for  us  that  it  is  so. 
The  idea  that  religion  thus  made  the  object  of  our  ceaseless  and  absorbing 
interest  is  calculated  to  banish  the  sunshine  from  our  path  and  cast  gloomy 
shadows  around  lis  is  practical  unV)elief.  Peace  in  its  jiurest  and  fairest  form, 
joy  in  its  highest  perfection,  and  bliss  in  its  flood-tide  are  all  to  be  found 
in  the  pathway  of  those  who  are  the  true  children  of  GOD  in  Christ  Jesus 
our  LORD.  *  *  *  The  hymn  yoii  mentioned  in  your  letter  to  my  mother 
is  ever  the  appropriate  expression  of  the  heart's  yearning  as  it  pants  after 
light  and  knowledge.  There  is  one  passage  of  the  Word  of  GOD  to  which 
I  would  direct  your  attention  :  Ephesians,  3d  chap.,  verses  10-20.  It  is  all 
yours,  if  by  meditation  and  prayer  you  seek  to  make  it  yoiirs.  In  the  bread 
imd  wine,  the  body  and  blood  of  tlie  Last  Supper,  as  you  eat  and  drink  in 
faith,  it  will  break  upon  you  a  new  light  and  unfold  to  your  wistful  gaze 
your  own  ever-extending  view  of  glory.  Study  it,  over  and  over  again  :  and 
i  mistake  greatly  if  it  does  not  sweeten  the  days  of  your  ))ilgriniage,  and  light 
you  across  the  valley,  and  constitute  the  music  strain  of  your  future  and 
eternal  song,  when  with  the  Heavenly  harpers  you  begin  to  continue  forever 
your  praise  to  Him  who  hath  redeemed  you  with  His  hlood  and  sanctified 
you  by  His  spirit  to  be  the  temple  of  His  holiness  /''/v/v/'. 
"  Y'oiir  friend, 

•AVILLIAM  I'INKNEY." 


80  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKXEY. 


CHAPTEE  XII. 

Call  to  Ascension  Parish.  Washington.  D.  C— Death  of  His  Mother. 

18.57-*58. 

Ix  the  early  summer  of  the  year  1857  the  parish  of  the  Ascen- 
sion in  Washington  city  became  vacant ;  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pink- 
NEY  was  unanimously  called  by  the  vestry  to  the  rectorship. 

This  parish  had  been  organized  and  received  into  union  with 
the  Convention  of  the  Diocese  in  1845,  under  the  mission  labors 
of  the  Rev.  L.  I.  Gillis,  who,  having  ministered  for  a  number  of 
years  in  parochial  charges  in  Montgomery  county,  Md.,  removed 
to  "Washington  :  and.  acting  under  the  ecclesiastical  authority  and 
with  the  approval  of  the  city  clergy,  he  very  soon  succeeded  in 
gathering  a  congregation  and  in  preparing  for  the  erection  of  a 
church  builthng.  A  large  and  valuable  lot  of  ground  on  H  street, 
between  Xinth  and  Tenth  streets,  adjoining  the  Van  Ness  mauso- 
leum and  the  then  Protestant  Orphan  Asylum,  was  generously 
donated  by  the  Van  Xess  family.  Funds  were  soon  raised  for 
the  erection  of  a  commodious  but  very  plain  brick  chvirch  :  for 
the  aims,  the  resoui'ces,  and  the  tastes  of  church  people  had  not 
reached  then*  present  development  in  matters  of  ecclesiastical 
architecture  and  ornamentation.  The  location,  though  not  in 
one  of  the  wealthy,  and  at  that  period  growing,  jDarts  of  the  city, 
was  happily  suited  to  provide  church  accommodation  for  the  large 
section  lying  between  the  distant  church  of  Trinity  on  the  east 
and  the  new  church  of  the  Epiphany  on  the  west.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Gniis  Avas  most  efficient  and  successful  in  his  labors,  and  contin- 
ued in  charge  of  the  parish  until  his  decline  in  health  required 
first  the  aid  of  an  assistant  minister,  and  ultimately  led  to  his 
withdrawal  from  the  rectorshij).  Pre\"iously,  however,  to  his 
resignation  and  sultseqviently,  under  the  assistant  who  succeeded 
him,  serious  troubles  arose  in  the  parish.  Into  the  nature  and 
causes  of  those  troubles,  even  if  they  were  fairly  and  fully  known, 
it  would  be  unnecessary  to  enter.  The  results,  after  prolonged 
dissensions,  were  that  in  1857  the  rectorsliiji  was  vacated  and  the 
congregation  left  in  an  almost  disrupted  state. 

Very  soon  the  eyes  of  all.  with  a  happy  unanimity,  were  turned 
to  Dr.  PiNKNEY  as  the  one  person  best  fitted  and  most  likely  to 
heal  the  existing  dissensions  and  restore  to  the  parish  unity  and 
l^rosperity.  By  his  near  residence  at  Bladensburg  and  his  suc- 
cessful ministry  in  the  county  of  Prince  George's,  adjoining  the 
District  of  Columbia,  Dr.  Pixkxey  had  become  most  favorably 


i 


LIFE    OF    JilSllol'    I'INKNKV.  81 

known  in  AVasliinyton  for  liis  talentK  and  ])ic'ty,  for  his  arduous 
ministerial  labors,  bis  <i[-enial  and  loving  ((ualitics  of  heart  and 
soul,  and  for  his  powers  as  a  persuasive  and  elo(|uent  preacher. 

Dr.  PiNKNFA-  at  lirst  positively  declined  the  call.  It  was  after- 
wards twice  renewed  with  great  urgency.*  A  prominent  clergy- 
man of  the  Church  in  Washington  ap})ealed  in  most  earnest  terms 
to  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  to  use  his  Episcopal  interposition  in 
securing  Dr.  Pinkney's  acceptance  of  the  charge.  This  letter  the 
Bishop  sent  to  Dr.  Pinkney,  and  wrote  upon  the  blank  page  of 
it,  in  his  own  chai'acteristic  style,  as  follows  : 

"  To  the  llev.  Dr.  Pinkney. 

"  B.VLTIMORE,  Tuenday,  18  A>ifj.,  T)?. 

"  My  De.\r  Brother  :  I  have  this  monit'iit  received  the  enclosed.  I  feel  it 
to  be  luy  duty  to  send  it  to  yon — though  not  meant  for  your  eye — and,  in 
doing  so,  to  say  to  you  most  seriously  and  solemnly — 

"  1.  That  tny judfjment  has  at  no  time  changed  or  wavered,  but  has  been 
steadily  and  increasingly  that,  so  far  as  I  can  know  or  judge  of  your  duty, 
that  duty  is  to  r/o  to  Wiishinnton. 

"  2.  That  every  mention  of  this  subject  has  elicited  the  same  judgment 
from  others,  and  that  I  have  not  heard  one  expression  of  opinion  justifying 
your  course.  Men  have  praised  your  motiveif,  but  uniformly  condemned 
your  course. 

"  With  those  considerations  I  leave  you.     I  will  not  p)'es.s  them,  but  beg 
yiiu  to  believe  that  they  are  not  lightly  presented. 
"  Your  loving  brother, 

"W.  E.  WHITTINGHAM." 

Under  these  cu'cunistances  Dr.  Pinkney  yielded  and  accepted 
the  charge  ;  for  in  all  matters  where  duty  was  involved  he  hesi- 
tated not  to  make  the  sacrifices  and  assume  the  resjjonsibilities 
which  duty  demanded.  It  was  the  ruling  principle  of  his  life 
from  its  beginning  to  its  close.  But  while  in  this  case  the  indi- 
cations of  duty  may  have  been  very  clear,  he  could  not  but  feel 
that  it  was  a  very  grave  jDersonal  matter  for  a  clergyman  who  had 
l)assed  the  twenty  years  of  his  ministerial  life  in  rural  parishes, 
to  undertake  in  the  city  of  JVashinytoti  the  charge  of  a  parish 
which  could  promise  but  little  in  way  of  support,  and  was  so 
reduced  by  internal  strife  as  to  make  doubtful  its  resuscitation, 
even  under  the  most  faithful  labors  and  earnest  preaching.  How 
natural,  therefore,  was  it  that  he  should  hesitate.  His  aversion 
to  cliange,  and  his  steady  refusal  to  accei)t  other  charges  which 
promised  large  stipport,  and  opened  up  to  him  wide  ojiportmiities 
of  usefulness  and  prominence  in  the  Church,  were  marked  features 
in  his  whole  ministerial  career,  and  caused  much  surprise  and 
comment  indeed  among  his  friends.     It  is  very  possible  that  iii 


*  The  following  are  the  names  of  church  wardens  and  vestrymen  signed 
to  the  call,  July  14th,  1857  :  Gustavus  Waters,  C.  F.  Perrie.  church  wardens  ; 
D.  McCarty,  J.  T.  Stevens,  Jf)hn  C.  Bowyer,  Chs.  F.  Hullburt,  C.  W.  Ben- 
nett, Gustavus  Waters,  John  Guest,  Ezra  Williams,  vestrymen. 


82  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

some  instances  he  may  have  been  unconsciously  swayed  by  the 
domestic  ties  and  affections  that  ckistered  around  his  homestead, 
and  by  those  tender  sympathies  and  associations  that  bound  him 
so  lomigly  to  those  to  whom,  for  many  years,  he  had  ministered 
in  the  sacred  offices  of  pastor  and  priest.  It  was  certainly  a 
beautiful  feature  in  his  character.  His  self-consciousness  of 
power  was  subdued  by  his  deep  humility,  and  all  the  promptings 
of  Jiatural  and  even  laudable  ambition  were  controlled  by  the  one 
absorbing  thought,  that  he  could  only  live  and  work  as  GOD 
should  lead  him  on.  Some  incidental  references  to  this  call  to 
the  Ascension,  which  are  found  in  his  notes,  show  how  deeply 
and  almost  painfully  his  mind  was  exercised  on  the  subject. 

Thus,  on  the  28th  August  he  has  this  brief  note  :  "  Much  dis- 
turbed by  the  call  to  Washington,  and  heart  sad  ;  Oh !  how  sad  ! 
But  GOD'S  wHl  be  done." 

In  a  letter  about  the  same  time  to  a  very  dear  young  friend 
and  parishioner,  to  whom  he  was  devotedly  attached,  he  writes  as 
follows  : 

'•  ToL.^ M. . 

**  My  Dearest  L. —  :  I  fear  the  decree  has  passed  which  must  sever  the 
tie  that  has  bound  me  in  so  many  living  links  to  this  much-loved  parish. 
GOD  knows  that  nothing  but  a  sense  of  duty,  forced  upon  me  by  the  strongly 
ex^jressed  opinion  of  the  Bishop  and  a  number  of  other  clergymen  and 
friends,  could  have  wrung  from  me  the  consent  to  abide  by  their  judgment. 
My  heart  has  been  too  full  for  utterances  for  the  last  three  lon^g,  Ic/iff  days,  as 
the  chain  of  circumstances  was  being  gradually  drawn  around  me.  *  *  * 
My  people  cannot  love  me  as  I  love  them.  Thrice  did  I  say  no  to  the  voice 
that  called  me  hence.  Thrice  did  I  rejoice  to  be  able  to  say  it.  But  now  the 
decree  is  isassed,  I  fear,  and  all  that  is  left  to  me  is  to  turn  my  face  from  the 
paths  I  have  travelled  for  years,  take  my  staff,  and  travel  on.  But  I  will  not 
pursue  the  theme.  Less  I  could  not  say  to  the  adopted  daughter  of  my 
most  valued,  most  cherished  friend,  my  own  child  in  the  Church. 

"  Your  attached  pastor,  now  as  ever, 
"  Aug.  4,  18.57.  W.  PINKNEY." 

The  parting  letters  that  passed  between  himself  and  the  vestries 
of  his  piirishes  were  beautiful  and  touching  in  their  expressions 
of  mutual  love  and  mutual  sorrow,  under  the  severance  of  the 
pastoral  tie  that  had  so  long  held  them  together. 

So  strong  and  ardent  were  his  personal  and  local  attachments, 
and  his  emotional  nature  was  so  susceptible  to  every  tender  feel- 
ing and  impulse  of  the  heart,  that  his  expressions  called  forth  by 
his  own  experiences,  or  by  his  sympathy  with  others  in  their 
experiences,  seem  sometimes  to  be  of  an  almost  over-wrought 
character  ;  but  those  who  knew  him  well,  and  therefore  loved  him 
dearly,  felt  that  his  words  were  no  mere  common-place  utterances, 
but  the  expression  of  his  hearts  deep  and  sincere  feeling,  and 
that  when  he  liestowed  on  friends  and  others  the  most  glowing 
commendations  they  were  no  flattering  praises,  but  the  genuine 
outflowings  of  his  own  appreciative  spu-it.     In  the  charity  that 


LIFE    OF    lilSllol-    I'lNKNEY.  S3 

"tliinketli  no  evil"  lie  loved  to  see  that  only  which  was  j^ood  in 
others,  not  because  he  wanted  the  penetration  and  discrimination 
to  discern  defects  in  character  and  errors  in  life,  l)ut  from  the 
evident  desii'e  of  his  heart  to  seize  and  maj^nify  whatever  there 
was  in  another  to  claim  fail'  and  generous  consideration.  On  any 
occasion  that  touched  his  close  relations  with  others  every  sym]»a 
thetic  emoticm  of  his  soul  was  moved.  Hence  it  was  that  he  felt 
so  keenly  this  se})aration  from  his  pjirishes — parishes  that  he  had 
so  lon<;'  and  lovin>;iy  served  as  a  pastor  l)eloved  and  revered. 

When  he  became  satisfied  that  it  was  his  dutu  to  accept  the 
cliar<4'e  of  the  Ascension  he  no  lonj^'er  hesitated.  He  entei-ed  upon 
the  rectorship  in  the  autumn  of  1S57. 

Whether  the  condition  of  continuing-  to  hold  his  family  resi- 
dence at  Blenheim  was  expressed  in  his  letter  of  acceptance,  or 
left  entirely  to  his  own  judgment  and  discretion,  it  is  imjjossible 
to  say.  The  fact  is,  that  he  did  not  remove  his  family  to  Wash- 
ington. The  nearness  of  Blenheim  to  the  city — distant  about 
live  miles — the  frequent  and  easy  intercourse  by  railroad  between 
the  two  places,  the  life-long  associations  of  his  wife  and  her  only 
surviving  brother,  unmarried,  with  the  old  family  homestead, 
together  wdth  the  fact  that  there  was  no  rectory  in  the  parish, 
must  all  have  mHueiu^ed  his  determination. 

By  this  arrangement,  to  one  so  tenderly  appreciative  of  the 
sweet  endearments  of  home,  the  sejjaration  from  the  family, 
though  only  partial,  must  have  been  peculiarly  trying.  It  neces- 
sitated much  going  to  and  fro,  and  that  ofttiines  at  unseasonable 
hours  and  with  much  personal  exposure  :  for,  w^hen  the  railroad 
was  used,  his  residence  was  still  upwards  of  a  mile  from  the 
station,  and  he  had  either  to  be  sent  for,  which  could  not  always 
be  done  under  the  uncertainty  of  his  return,  or  he  had  to  trudge 
his  way  on  foot,  sometimes  it  might  be — as  the  writer  well  knows — 
through  darkness,  or  in  storm,  in  deep  sand  and  mud,  and  over 
streams,  which  by  their  overflow  sometimes  prevented  his  return. 
Weaiy  and  painful  as  must  have  been  very  often  these  walks  on 
foot  or  rides  in  open  vehicle,  in  heat  and  cold,  he  was  never  known 
to  complain.  When  using  a  vehicle  he  always  took  the  reins 
himself,  rarely  w^earing  gloves,  and  only  in  extreme  weather  an 
overcoat.  This,  year  after  year,  and  at  all  seasons  of  the  year, 
he  continued  to  do  through  the  whole  of  his  rectorshi})  of  the 
Ascension  parish,  and  ever  afterwards  during  his  Episcopate  until 
the  close  of  his  life. 

For  nearly  fifty  years  Blenheim  was  his  happy  home,  though 
only  at  intervals  could  he  be  there.  He  eagerly  sought  its  rural 
quiet  for  rest  and  study.  The  mansion  stood  in  elevated  position 
near  the  crest  of  the  hill  east  of  Bladensburg  and  commanded  an 
extended  landscape  view  of  the  surrounding  country.     There  he 


84  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

was  always  free  frdm  those  manifold  interruptions,  often  needless 
and  sometimes  annoyin<>-,  to  which  he  would  have  been  subjected 
by  a  city  residence.  And  yet,  even  when  there,  he  was  always 
near  enough  for  any  demands  or  emergencies  in  the  pastoral  life. 
He  had  no  set  times  for  going  thither.  If  he  could  fix  ujion  a 
railroad  hour  at  which  to  be  met,  he  would  write  home  to  be  sent 
for  :  if  not,  he  would  go  without  any  notice  to  the  family  and 
make  his  way  on  foot.  A  sweet  and  joyous  greeting  always 
aM-aited  him.  Servants  would  show  theii-  gladness  and  his  favorite 
dog  run  forth  to  meet  him  with  mute  caress.  When  he  could  be 
at  home  of  evenings,  after  the  plain  and  simple  repast  of  the 
family  was  over,  if  no  friend  or  guest  were  present,  he  would 
hasten  to  his  study,  there  to  pass  the  hom-s  in  work  till  long,  after 
midnight.  Fresh  and  early  the  next  morn  would  he  go  forth  to 
his  well-planned  work  in  the  city. 

Though  thus  retaining  his  domicile  at  Blenheim  he  managed 
well  and  wisely  respecting  his  pastoral  work  in  the  city.  He 
made  the  vestry-room  of  the  chui'ch  his  study  :  and  it  was  there 
that  he  could  be  found  for  counsel  or  official  business,  when  not 
engaged  in  active  pastoral  duty,  or  when,  for  brief  intervals,  he 
was  at  his  home  in  Bladensburg.  He  had  not  for  the  first  few 
years  of  his  pastorate  in  the  Ascension  any  settled  domicile.  He 
secured  a  room  for  his  personal  accommodation :  but  he  often 
partook  of  the  social  meal  with  some  of  his  parishioners,  and  not 
infrequently  passed  his  nights  at  some  of  their  houses.  After- 
wards, in  1866,  he  became  permanently  domiciled  with  one  of  the 
families  of  his  congregation,  the  Misses  Burgess,*  at  first  resident 
on  H  street,  and  afterwards  successively  on  New  York  and  Con- 
necticut avenues.  These  ladies  were  engaged  in  conducting  a 
school  for  girls  and  young  ladies,  which  acquu'ed  a  high  reputation 
for  thorough  instruction,  and  admirable  management.  They  sub- 
se(]uently  named  theii-  school  '•  The  Pinkney  Institute.'"  In  this 
family  Dr.  Pinkxey  found  so  much  loving  sj^mpathy.  true  piety, 
and  cultured  refinement,  as  to  reconcile  him  to  absences  from  his 
own  home,  which  the  system  he  had  adopted  made  unavoidable. 
In  this  family  he  continued  to  make  his  city  home  during  his  long- 
pastorate  in  the  parish,  and  subsequently  during  the  whole  j^eriod 
of  his  Episcopate.  It  was  the  cUy  home  till  he  passed  to  the 
blessed  Paradise  home. 

Dr.  Pinkney  entered  with  zeal  and  alacrity  ujDon  his  new  duties 
as  a  city  rector.  He  felt  that  he  had  an  arduous  and  responsible 
work  devolved  upon  him,  and  he  devoted  to  it  his  best  energies. 
He  had  not  only  to  heal  the  internal  dissensions  of  the  congre- 


*  These  ladies  were  Miss  Anne.  Miss  Alice,  and  ]Miss  Kate  Burgess.  Their 
brother,  Mr.  K.  W.  Burgess,  with  his  wife  and  daughter,  resided  near  them. 
Mr.  B.  was  one  of  Dr.  Pinkney's  warmest  friends,  and  for  many  years  a 
vestrymau  of  the  Ascension  parish. 


LIFE    OF    r.lSllol'    ri.NKNEY.  85 

f^atioii,  iuul  oiganize  the  materials  at  his  disposal  for  eftectivc  i)ariHh 
work,  l)ut  also  to  meet  the  pressin<^  demaiul  for  a  strong  ehurch 
organization  midway  between  the  ehnrehes  of  Trinity  and 
the  Epii)liany.  Dr.  Cummins  was  at  that  time  the  p<)])ular 
preat'lie)',  drawing  crowds  to  Trinity  Church  on  the  east  side  ; 
and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  H.Hall  was  the  able  reetoi'  of  the  Ei)ij)h- 
auy  cm  the  west  side,  attracting  to  that  churcli  much  of  the 
cultivated  intelligence  and  earnest  chiirchmansliip  of  the  central 
parts  of  the  city.  Farther  to  the  west  end,  and  near  the  Presi- 
dential mansion,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Smith  Pyne,  a  clergyman  of 
marked  ability  and  eloquence,  was  tilling  the  j)ulpit  of  the  vener- 
able church  of  St.  John's  parish. 

These  parishes  had  their  sei)arate  "  metes  and  bounds,""  as 
they  were  organized  under  the  Church  provisions  and  the  civil 
law  for  their  incorporation ;  but  in  the  actual  working  out  of 
ministerial  and  j^astoral  life  in  the  city,  the  rectors  could  not 
possibly  confine  their  S2)iritual  cures  and  ministrations  to  those 
only  Avho  lived  within  the  certain  geographical  limits  of  the 
respective  jiarishes.  Persons  from  all  ].)arts  of  the  cit^^  sought 
and  held  their  church  connection,  irrespective  of  the  locality  of 
their  domicile.  It  could  not  be  otherwise.  Hence  the  pastoral 
work  of  the  city  rector  extended  sometimes  to  great  distances 
from  the  parish  church,  and  was  on  that  account  the  more  ardu- 
ous. Some  of  the  members  of  the  Ascension  lived  in  extreme 
parts  of  the  city,  and  some  even  outside  the  city  limits.  This 
same  state  of  things  respecting  the  residence  of  church-members 
under  the  care  of  the  rector,  existed,  and  still  holds  in  all  the 
jjarishes  of  Washington  city.  Whatever  in  some  instances  may 
be  the  advantages  of  strict  territorial  limits  in  a  rector's  charge, 
there  cannot  be,  under  the  voluntary  system  necessarily  followed 
in  oiu'  American  land,  a  rigid  observance  of  these  limits  in  a  city 
jmstor's  work  ;  *  nor  ahvays,  indeed,  in  the  rui'al  settlements. 

The  parish  proper  is  in  no  essential  way  ccmnected  with  the 
spiritual  cure  of  souls. 

According  to  Su-  Roundell  Palmer  (Lord  Selborne).t  the 
parochial  system  did  not  become  any  part  of  Church  organiza- 
tion in  England,  either  universally  or  nearly  so,  before  the  twelfth 
century,  and  even  then  it  grew  not  out  of  any  ideas  of 
sjyirltual  cure  for  a  one  pastor,  but  was  simply  a  seeidar  ari-ange- 
ment  to  secure  the  Church  revenues  of  tithes  to  a  certain  incumbent, 
either  placed  there  by  the  founder,  or  otherwise  instituted,  in 
order  that  he  miiiiit  receive  the  tithes  of  a  certain  district.     The 


*  It  is  a  singular  fact  in  the  history  of  the  parish  of  the  Ascension,  that 
when,  in  the  year  1873,  the  i)rcs('nt  new  and  costly  church  was  to  be  erected, 
the  vestry  went  outride  of  the  limits  of  their  own  j)arish  for  its  location. 

t  See  Lord  SelV)orne"s  "Defence  of  the  Church  of  England  a^'ainst  Dis- 
establishment" (part  ii,  chap,  viii,  p.  138). 


86  LIFE    OF    BISHOr    PINKXEY. 

parochia  gi*ew-  out  of  secular  aiTaugements  for  the  titlie  support 
of  rectors  or  incumbents  within  certain  Hmits,  and  had  no  special 
or  ecclesiastical  regard  to  the  spiritual  cure  of  the  inhabitants 
within  the  district  where  exacted  and  collected. 

Surveying  the  field  that  was  before  him  in  this  city  charge, 
and  clearly  comprehending  the  work  he  had  to  do.  Dr.  Pinkney 
resolved  to  meet  the  responsibility  of  the  position  to  the  full 
extent  of  his  ability.  Ignoring  all  the  occasions  and  causes  of 
past  trouble  in  the  parish,  he  devoted  himself  to  most  earnest 
and  faithful  gospel  preaching,  and  to  unremitting  labors  in  joas- 
toral  visiting-. 

At  the  time  of  entering  upon  the  rectorship  of  the  Ascension 
he  was  in  the  4:5th  year  of  his  age.  He  was  in  the  full  maturity 
of  his  physical  and  intellectual  powers.  In  his  early  ministry, 
and  for  some  j'ears  later,  he  suffered  from  a  chronic  throat  dis- 
ease, then  very  common  among  the  clergy,  and  from  a  troublesome 
affection  of  the  eyes,  in  granulation  of  the  lids,  much  interfering 
with  closeness  and  continuity  of  stvidy.  Under  the  active  duties 
of  his  country  parishes  his  health  had  become  \'igorous,  and  the 
apparently  delicate  and  slender  form  of  his  earlier  years  assumed 
a  fuller  physical  development,  which  added  to  the  dignity  of  his 
presence  and  bearing.  Not  above  the  ordinary  height,  he  was 
well  proportioned  in  person,  and  although  not  robust,  yet  capable 
of  great  endurance.  He  bore  in  his  features,  in  his  dark  hair  and 
eyes,  and  in  the  contour  of  his  face,  the  characteristic  marks  of 
the  Pinkney  family.  In  personal  appearance  he  was  singularly 
pre^jossessing.  Intelligence  mingled  with  placidity  beamed  from 
his  countenance.  His  manners  were  those  of  the  cultui"ed  and 
refined  Christian  gentleman,  blending  the  dignity  wath  the  suavity 
of  the  Christian  priest.  Hence  he  became  a  great  favorite  with 
his  2:)eople  in  his  ministrations  from  altar  and  pulpit,  and  in  all 
social  and  pastoral  intercourse.  He  soon  came  to  know  closely 
and  endearingly  every  member  of  his  flock,  from  the  little  child  to 
the  aged  one.  Even  those  in  the  lowliest  walks  of  life  found  in 
him  the  true  pastor  and  a  loving  friend.  In  a  word,  the  results  of 
his  election  to  the  parish  of  the  Ascension  more  than  realized  the 
anticipations  of  the  vestry,  and  all  those  friends  w^ho  had  urged 
\x\)0\\  him  its  acceptance.  New  elements  of  strength  and  growth 
were  gnaduaU}'  brought  into  the  parish.  Men  of  influence  and 
standing  in  the  city,  families  of  high  social  position,  and  many 
from  all  classes  of  society,  were  attracted  by  his  ministrj-,  and 
connected  themselves  with  the  Church. 

Some  estimate  of  his  labors,  and  of  the  Divine  blessing  attend- 
ing them,  may  be  formed  from  the  jiarochial  report  which  he 
made  to  the  Bishop  at  the  succeeding  Diocesan  Convention.  In 
that  report  he  saj's  : 


LIFE    OF    P.ISllol'    I'lNKNEY.  S7 

•'In  this  new  ticld  of  lalxir  1  have  met  with  a  (.•ordial  j^rt-ctiii^,'.  tliat  has 
tar  exft't'dfd  my  most  saii<,'iiiii<'  exiit-i-tatioiis.  Our  work  is  carried  on  in  thu 
cahn,  earnest,  ordi'rly  method  of  the  C'hnreh,  and  it  j^rows  upon  our  hands. 
Morning'  prayer,  on  every  nK)rniug  of  the  week  but  one,  is  said  at  (i.ao 
o'ck)ek.  and  evening  prayer  on  every  evening  at  (i  o'ch)ek.  All  the  Festivals 
are  duly  celebrated  with  early  communion.  A  class  of  twenty-four  (jr 
twenty-tive  is  now  Wiiiting  for  contirmation.  The  finances  are  in  a  healthy 
condition,  and  the  rector's  salary,  increased  from  twelve  to  fifteen  hundred 
dollars,  is  pxinctually  paid.  With  (tOD'S  blessing  upon  our  efforts  we  hope 
to  realize  more  decided  results  in  time  to  come.  The  llev.  Mr.  Christian  is 
acting  as  my  assistant." 

This  report,  covering  little  more  than  seven  months,  indicates 
remarkable  success  in  ministerial  labors. 

In  entering  U]ion  bis  duties  as  a  city  rector,  Dr.  Pinknev  not 
only  observed  all  the  Cburcli  Festivals  with  an  early  communion 
on  these  days,  but  he  also  introduced  the  ])aUy  Service  in  morn- 
ing and  evening  piayei- — at  that  time  verj'  unusual,  even  in  the 
city  churches,  and  of  which  his  church  was  the  only  instance  in 
Washington  city. 

So  arduous  and  jH'essing  became  the  Avork  that,  after  a  few 
months  of  such  labors,  he  found  it  necessary  to  seek  the  aid  of  an 
assistant  minister.  He  was  fortunate  in  securing  the  services  of 
the  Rev.  William  Christian,  a  young  deacon  just  ordained,  one  like- 
minded  with  himself,  and  a  most  efficient  helper.  The  ministerial 
career  of  this  promising  young  clergyman  was  comprised  within 
six  brief  years  ;  of  which  about  two  were  passed  in  assisting  Dr. 
PiNKNEY,  and  the  remaining  years,  after  his  ordination  to  the 
priesthood,  in  charge  of  a  parish.  He  died  while  the  rector  of  8t. 
Alban's  parish,  District  of  Columbia.  The  close  of  his  life  was 
marked  by  many  months  of  most  ])ainful  sniiering,  ''  endured,"' 
as  Bishoj)  Whittingham,  in  the  notice  of  his  death,  speaks,  "  with 
a  patience  worthy  of  the  bright  energy  of  his  j^revious  course." 

It  was  only  in  one  or  two  instances  that  Dr.  Pinkney  sought 
the  aid  of  an  assistant  minister  ;  and  in  this  case  it  was  only  for 
a  few  years  at  the  beginning  of  his  ministry  in  the  Ascension.  So 
great  became  the  demand  for  pews  that  it  was  soon  necessary  to 
consider  the  matter  of  enlarging  the  church,  and  also  of  making 
such  alterations  and  improvements  in  the  structure  as  would 
conduce  to  the  greater  comfort  of  the  worshippers  and  the  more 
becoming  celebration  of  the  Divine  services. 

There  were  peculiar  dilticulties  in  accomplishing  this  desired 
work.  The  enlargement  and  improvements  were  necessarily 
restricted  by  the  condition  of  the  original  structure,  which  ren- 
dered it  impossible  to  give  to  the  e.vterior  any  architectiu'al  beauty 
without  a  reconstruction  of  the  whole  building. 

The  building  was  of  two  stories,  having  a  basement  on  a  level 
with  the  street,  used  for  a  Sunday-school  and  lecture-room,  the 
upper  portion  serving  for  the  pubhc  worshij)  of  the  chuich  by 
the  conoreoation.     The  entrance  was  through  a  vestibule  in  the 


88  LIFK    OF    l;l.HFIOI'    I'lNKXEY. 

baHerneiit,  witli  broad  wtepH  on  either  Hide  leadinpf  up  into  thf- 
Jiftve  of  tlif  cliurcli.  Tbe  intwior  whh  bare  and  j)lairi,  and  tlif- 
chancel  nndinrchly  and  entirely  without  omanif^ntation.  The 
enlar^'enient  eonld  only  }>e  in  tlie  direction  of  the  chancel  at  the 
rear  of  the  church,  and  Huch  alterations  were  to  be  made  in  tlie 
nave  as  U>  render  the  whole  interior  more  churchly. 

These  changes  were  in  due  time  effected.  The  ceiling  of  the 
church  was  arched.  A  HpaciouH  and  well-ari'anged  chancel  was 
erected,  a  1>eautiful  Htained-glaHs  window  was  placed  over  the  altar. 
handHonie  arid  mansive  walnut  furniture  was  provided  for  the 
chancel,  new  pews  were  made,  stained-glaHH  windows  were  sub- 
stituted for  the  j)lain  ones  in  the  body  of  the  chiu"ch,  the  whole 
fl*>or  was  carpeted,  and  a  new  and  excellent  organ  erected  in  the 
end  gallery. 

Hf»  great  were  these  iniproverneTitw  in  the  interior  of  the  church 
that  one  ff>r  the  first  time  entering  into  the  nave,  through  the  plain 
and  winding  stairs  of  the  vestibule,  would  be  struck  with  tlie 
spaciousness  and  churchly  beauty  of  the  whole  inteiior ;  capabh- 
of  seating  some  six  or  eight  hundred  people.  Adjoining  tlu 
chancel  was  the  rector's  study,  and  beneath  it  a  commodious 
room  for  the  meetings  of  the  vestry  and  the  church  societies. 

These  improvements  were  made  as  soon  as  the  resources  of  the 
parish  became  equal  tf)  the  expenditure.  While  there  were  some 
who  ha<l  abundant  worldly  means,  the  congregation  for  the  most 
j)ajt  was  largely  composed  of  jiersons  in  moderate  cii'cumstances 
of  life,  though  of  great  substantial  woitli  in  all  the  elements  of 
true  church  life  and  growtli.  In  all  church  (;fl"e)Tngs  for  "  liome 
and  abroad,"  the  ])arish  sof)n  liecame  well  known  for  its  liberality  : 
and  it  is  matter  of  record  that  when  the  vestry  desired  from  time 
to  time  to  increase  their  rector's  salary,  he  steatlily  declined  to 
accede  tf>  the  proposal.  His  wants  were  few  and  simple,  and 
beyond  his  own  immediate  personal  necessities  and  those  of  hiH 
family,  he  disjjensed  of  what  he  had  for  the  good  of  others :  and 
it  may  l>e  here  added  that  afterwards,  when  he  became  Bishoj) 
with  larger  income,  he  reserved  only  a  small  part  for  himself,  and 
apjdied  the  rewt  in  the  manifold  ways  in  which  he  loved  tf)  express 
his  syiiijiathy  and  benevolence. 

Towai-dw  the  close  of  the  year,  1858,  the  children  of  Mis. 
Anielid  I'inkney  were  called  to  mourn  the  loss,  by  death,  of  tlieii 
liejoved  and  revered  mother.  The  event  occurre<l  at  her  home  iu 
AiinapoliM,  oil  the  4tli  of  November  of  that  year.  ^Irs.  Pinkncy 
had  icHclicd  tlie  venerable  age  of  eighty  years.  Slie  had  been 
failing  in  health  for  a  long  jieriod,  and  for  some  time  previous  to 
the  decease  it  was  ajijxirent  that  she  was  steadily  declining. 
Much  physical  weakness  and  occasional  Mufl'eriug  attended  her 
closing  days.  SIh-  retained,  however,  her  mental  faculties  in  full 
vigor  to  the  last,  her  affections  as  warm  as  ever  in  theii'  ten- 


LIFE    (»r    I'.lsinU'    riNKNKY.  Hi) 

dvv  ^'low,  and  lu'V  (Ifvotioii  ^row  iii;^-  nioic  sjiiiit  luil  ns  tlic  riid 
approiifluHl.  By  an  aniiii^ciiu'iit,  us  we  have  sc«ii,  willi  tlir 
Unitcil  States  Govenmit'iit.  to  wliicli  \\rr  lioiiu'.  with  tin-  atljoiiiiii';- 
j»Touiuls,  had  hwu  sohl  tor  the  iicrt'ssarv  uses  of  the  Naval  Acad 
emy,  shr  was  j)ii\ilt'o;od  to  muain  in  undisturht'd  possession  ot" 
her  house  as  h)n'4-  as  slie  should  live.  She  looked  out  from  In  r 
windows  upon  the  ehanyes  that  were  j^(»in]^'  on  around  her  witiiout 
a  sif,'h  or  a  nuirniur.  f«)r  she  telt  that  soon  she  was  to  enter  ujton 
"  a  lunise  not  made  with  hands  eternal  in  the  heavens."  She  little 
dreamed,  however,  as  she  breathed  her  last,  that  on  the  sjtot 
where  the  t)ld  homestead  stood  would,  ere  lon^-,  arise  a  beautifnl 
sanetuary  lor  jirayer  and  praise,  to  whieh  her  st)n,  raised  to  be  a 
]5ishop  in  the  Church  of  (tOD,  wotdd  sometimes  come  for  holy 
ministrations. 

Her  last  illness  was  of  short  iluration,  so  short  that  her  son, 
the  Kev.  Dr.  AVilliam  Pinknky.  could  not  reach  her  bedside  in  tinu' 
for  the  sad  farewell.  The  rector  of  the  })arish  was  with  her  for 
the  sacred  and  comforting'  ministrations  of  the  Church,  into  which 
in  early  lit\>  she  had  been  ba})ti/ed.  and  from  which,  by  her  con 
uection  with  the  Methodists,  she  had  been  foi'  a  season  separated  ; 
but  to  which  she  had  some  time  before  hai)pily  rt'turned.  Her 
return  to  the  Church  had  been,  tVn-  herself  and  for  her  children,  a 
Itlessed  reunion.  Not  that  she  had  ever  been  alieiuited  in  sjnrit 
from  the  Church,  from  the  doctrinal  teachinj^s  and  sacred  services 
of  the  ]uayei-book.  It  has  been  stated  in  a  i)recedin<;'  chajiter 
that  Mrs.  Pinkney  had,  in  early  life,  connected  herself  with  the 
tirst  Methodists,  so  noted  for  spirituality,  earnestness,  and  zeal. 
She  ct)ntinued  in  that  connection  for  a  luimber  of  years  ;  but 
happily,  under  circumstances  nicest  c(msolatorv  and  ^natifyinjj;-  to 
her  children,  she  hail  leturiu'd  to  the  communion  of  the  Church. 

In  the  last  address  which,  as  liishoji.  Dr.  Pinknky  delivered  to 
the  Convention  of  the  Diocese,  in  May,  ISSM,  at  the  centennial 
commemoratiim  of  the  organization  of  tlu'  Chuich  in  ^biryland, 
only  one  short  month  before  his  own  sndden  decease,  he  thus 
si)eaks  of  the  circumstances  attending-  the  return  of  his  mother 
to  the  communion  of  the  Church : 

"Sweet  lueinories  are  floating  all  aiouiiil  as,  the  sweetest  of  wliieh  is  the 
uifiiiory  of  Bray,  the  greatest  man  England  sent  out  to  i)lant  the  hanner  of 
the  Cross  in  these  Western  wilds.  He  was  a  man  of  profound  rrinlitioii  ami 
spotless  })urity.  He  has  left  behinil  him,  in  the  tew  remaining  works  of  the 
nohle  libraries  he  founded,  unmistakalile  proi.fs  of  his  taste,  and  familiarity 
with  the  ln'st  sourees  of  knowh'dgi'  which  the  Old  World  has  ojimid  up 
before  the  earnest  searchers  after  truth  in  the  New.  Mis  own  work  on  the 
eathechism  i.s  most  able  and  learned.  It  floated  into  my  hands  many  years 
ago  in  a  very  remarkable  way.  A  Presbyterian  minister  gave  it  to  me. 
Removing  to  "the  Western  Shore.  I  left  it  at  Annapolis.  Strange  to  say,  this 
fragment  of  a  work,  east  on  the  waters  long  years  gone  by,  was  the  meaiiH, 
under  (lOl),  of  bringing  back  to  the  fold  one  <)f  the  most  gifted  daughters  of 
the  Church,  who  had.  in  an  unguanled  hour,  and  at  a  time  when  the  tire 


90  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

was  burning  very  dimly  on  the  altar  beside  which  she  knelt,  wandered  off ; 
and  that  daughter  was  the  mother  of  your  Bishop.  Wonderful  are  the  ways 
of  Providence  :  A  seed  of  life,  cast  by  the  hands  of  a  true-hearted  missionary 
of  England's  noble  Church,  floated  on  until  it  found  a  lodgement  in  a  heart 
prepared  for  it  by  GOD  in  His  mercy  ;  and  I  am  here  to-day,  myself  very 
near  the  water's  edge,  to  express  my  gratitude  to  England's  noble  son.  I 
drop  a  tear  to  his  memory,  and  pray  that  we  may  catch  the  mantle  of  the 
sainted  Bray,  and  so  love  and  labor  that  we  may  hand  over  to  others,  day 
by  day,  the  rich  blessings  we  have  received  from  the  Mother  Church  of 
England." 

Mrs.  Pinkney  kept  up.  even  to  the  last  month  of  her  life,  a  fre- 
quent and  regular  correspondence  with  both  of  her  sons.  She 
was  a  charming  letter-writer,  unconsciously  touching  everything 
that  she  wrote  with  the  sweetness,  the  beauty,  the  tenderness, 
and  the  love  that  tilled  to  overflowing  her  own  cultured  mind 
and  chastened  heart.  From  her  sons  she  received  a  filial  devotion 
that  never  faltered,  and  became  more  hallowed  as  the  end  di-ew 
near.  Her  daughter  was  never  sejiarated  from  her,  and  was 
always  near  in  all  dutiful  and  loving  offices  for  the  comfort,  the 
solace,  and  the  joy  of  the  aged  mother. 

Life  is  beautiful  when  it  can  be  so  lived  and  so  closed  on  earth, 
preparatory  to  the  entrance  of  the  soul  upon  the  fulness  of  its 
blessedness  in.  the  life  immortal. 

A  few  extracts  from  letters  to  her  sons  will  form  a  fitting  close 
to  this  brief  memorial  notice.  Thus  at  one  time  she  writes  to 
her  son.  Dr.  Niniau,  then  abroad  in  the  IT.  S.  squadron : 

"  Old  age  is  over  me  now.  and  the  tenderness  and  affection  of  my  children 
are  necessary  to  me.  I  have  no  fear  that  I  shall  ever  be  without  their  love. 
*  *  *  Mrs.  L.  was  here  Su.nday  night.  She  is  the  only  neighbor  that 
comes  in  at  night.  It  is  company  to  watch  the  sunseU.^  Last  night  there 
was  a  pile  of  roseate-colored  clouds  in  the  south,  as  if  reflected  from  a  bril- 
liant sunset,  but  it  was  some  time  after  the  sun  had  gone  down.  Through 
the  opening  in  the  foliage  of  the  trees,  in  the  government  lot,  came  pictures 
of  gay  rose-color  mingling  with  the  green  leaves,  while  jiast  at  the  top  of  one 
of  these  trees  came  forth  the  moon  like  a  ball  of  glittering  silver,  while  the 
tremulous  motion  of  the  leaves  gave  it  the  apjieai-ance  of  throwing  out  sparks. 
I  gazed  upon  the  scene  and  thought  yoii  might  be  looking  vipon  that  same 
moon  rising,  near  the  full,  on  the  distant  ocean.  If  this  world,  marred  by 
sin  as  it  is,  be  so  beautiful,  what  must  Heaven  be  ?  " 

Only  about  two  months  before  her  decease  she  wrote  to  her 
son  William  as  follows  : 

''  August  2\,  18.58. 
"  Mv  Dkar  Son  :  I  received  your  letter  in  due  time,  but  having  written 
myself  on  Saturday.  I  thought  it  best  to  wait  until  to-day.  I  thank  you  for 
the  letter.  Write  when  you  can,  and  come  when  you  can.  It  is  always 
soothing,  'mid  age  and  infirmity,  to  see  you  or  to  hear  from  you.  *  *  * 
I  am  really  better.  I  did  not  expect  ever  to  be  able  to  say  so  again.  I  am 
better,  suffer  less,  have  a  good  appetite,  and  gain  a  little  more  strength. 
Thank  (JOl)  for  this  great  mercy.  Dr.  Kidout  comes  as  often  as  he  can.  and 
always  by  his  sweet  examjile  gives  me  lessons  of  siibmission.  *  *  *  If 
it  should  please  our  Heavenly  Father  to  keep  me  as  I  am  now,  I  shall  be 
.very  thankful,  but  I  do  not  look  for  it." 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP    PINKNEY.  'Jl 

"Writing  to  bis  wife  after  the  Ijurial  services.  Di\  Pinkxky  sent 
the  following  letter  : 

"  Annapolih,  November  H.  1858. 

"  My  Dkau  Betsey  :  I  hud  a  sad,  sail  ride  to  Aiiiiajjolis.  and  a  still  sadder 
evi'iiiiij^  after  I  j^'ot  there — everything  so  vividly  brought  before  me  the 
extent  of  our  loss.  However,  GOl^  does  all  things  well,  and  our  loss  is  our 
dear  mother's  gain.  Her  faculties  werego<id  to  the  last-  -everything  arranged 
by  her  for  her  own  funeral,  as  ire  would  plan  a  journey  to  Washington  :  and 
yet  humility  in  every  word  and  look.  I  was  deprived  the  comf(jrt  of  seeing 
the  close — a  sad  affliction  to  this  cu])  of  bitterness.  How  one  verse  in  the 
Psalms  for  the  day  (the  7th)  ajjplies  to  my  heart.  My  sister  bears  uj)  with 
great  fortitude.  She  has  to  comfort  her  the  recollection  of  unfailing  and 
cheerful  waiting  \\\un\  our  dear  mother  through  long  days  and  niglits  of 
sorrow.  She  and  cousin  Ann  will  remain  here  until  the  sj)ring,  when  she 
will  spend  the  spring  and  summer  months  with  Ninian  and  the  other  six 
months  with  me.  I  know  that  you  will  do  all  you  can  to  nnike  her  happy. 
I  shall  return  on  Wednesdav.  Affectionatelv, 

•W.  P." 

Upou  his  return  home  Dr.  Pinkney  immediately  wrote  to  his 
sister  these  brief  lines  : 

'*  November  7,  18r)8. 
"  I  left  you  with  a  very  heavy  heart,  my  dear  sister,  and  hope  GOD  will 
sustain  you  in  our  present  deep  trial.  Our  loss  is  Ma's  infinite  and  eternal 
gain.  Her  life  was  redolent  of  heaven,  her  heart  too  fresh  and  sensitive 
for  earth.  Few  lived  as  she  did — indeed  I  know  of  no  one  who  did;  but 
still  the  heart  will  grieve  in  its  selfish  longings. 

•'Affectionately, 

"W.  P." 

The  following  is  a  coi:»y  of  the  epitajih  inscribed  upon  Mrs. 
Pinkney" s  tomb : 

"  Gifted  with  a  mind  admirably  harmonious  in  its  attribiites,  a  retentive 
memory,  brilliant  imagination,  solid  judgment,  exquisite  taste,  and  en- 
riched by  careful  and  varied  culture — a  heart  of  the  softest  texture,  as  warm 
and  fresh  amid  the  snows  of  80  winters  as  in  its  early  spring-time — she  lived 
in  the  fear  of  GOD  I  In  prosperity  hajjpy,  in  adversity  nu-ekly  jiatient,  she 
smiled  in  her  teai's  and  was  contented  and  thankful.  Humility  was  the 
crowning  characteristic  of  her  life,  and  peace  the  solace  of  its  close.  Dis- 
trustful of  self,  she  clung  with  childlike  confidence  to  the  Crt)SS;  and  in  the 
bosom  of  the  Church,  in  the  hoju'  of  a  blissful  immortality  and  a  glorious 
resurrection,  she  fell  asleep  in  JESUS.  This  tribute  is  by  us  inscribed  on 
marble  solely  because  it  was  transcribed  in  the  daily  life  as  we  saw  it.  Her 
memory  may  jjass  away  from  earth,  like  all  else  that  is  human,  but  her  record 
is  on  high.  From  other  hearts  that  memory  may  fade  ;  from  ouv.t,  never. 
GOD'S  free  gift  in  love  to  her,  it  is  oi;rrich  inheritance,  her  parting  blessing 
in  CHRIST  to  us.  Near  the  city  she  loved,  on  the  banks  of  the  river  where 
she  laid  down  one  by  one  the  jjrized  jewels  of  her  heart's  afl"ectioiis  in  sub- 
mission to  her  Father's  will,  ire  laid  her  down  to  rest,  to  wait  the  sounding 
of  the  archangel's  trump,  knowing  that  those  who  sleep  in  JESUS,  GOI>  will 
bring  with  Him.     May,  1860." 

Dr.  Pinkney's  report  to  the  Bishop,  at  the  Diocesan  Convention 
of  the  succeeding  year,  1859,  contains  statements  still  further 
illustrative  of  the  vigor  and  success  of  his  rectorship  in  the  parish 


92  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

of  the  Ascension.  He  records  for  the  year  the  large  addition  of 
sixty-five  communicants,  and  forty-tbree  as  the  number  of  the 
confirmed.  The  total  amoimt  of  contributions  reached  $5,741.10. 
He  adds  in  that  report : 

"With  a  chiireh  edifice  thoroughly  renewed,  beautiful  in  its  simplicity, 
and  chiirch-like  in  its  arrangements  :  with  a  congregation  regular  and  atten- 
tive ;  with  a  Sunday-school  well  ordered  and  steadily  increasing,  we  feel 
encouraged,  and  trust  that  the  past  will  only  be  a  greater  incentive  to  future 
exertion." 

At  the  Diocesan  Convention  of  that  year,  Dr.  Pixkney  was 
elected  for  the  second  time  a  delegate  to  the  General  Convention, 
which  was  to  meet  in  the  ensuing  October  in  the  city  of  Rich- 
mond, Va.  It  was  a  period  of  intense  anxiety  throughout  the 
country,  touching  the  political  aspects  of  the  times.  The  feeling 
both  North  and  South,  growing  out  of  the  recent  John  Brown  raid 
into  Virginia,  was  so  great  as  to  forebode  coming  troubles  in  the 
country,  and  in  the  counsels  of  the  Church.  Happily,  while  the 
former  became  intensified,  the  latter  were  kept  free  from  agita- 
tions. That  General  Convention  was  one  of  the  most  peaceful 
and  harmonious  that  was  ever  held  in  the  Church.  Strong  and 
deep  as  may  have  been  the  troubled  undercurrents,  they  created 
no  disturbance  on  the  placid  waters  over  which  the  Church  was 
moving.  The  great  religious  denommations  of  the  country  had 
already  been  severed  into  oj^posing  bodies :  and  no  little  anxiety 
was  felt  for  the  peace  and  unity  of  the  Church. 

To  the  Diocesan  Convention  of  the  next  year,  Bishop  Whitting- 
ham  was  able  in  his  addi-ess  to  say : 

"  I  think  I  should  fall  short  of  duty,  were  I  to  withhold  expression  of  the 
deep  gratitude  we  all  owe  to  the  Giver  of  every  good  and  perfect  gift  for 
the  remarkable  degree  of  cordiality  and  ituauimity  with  which  otir  great 
representative  body  was  so  largely  blessed  in  the  discussion  and  transaction 
of  business  of  the  most  delicate  claaracter  and  extreme  importance." 

Dr.  PiNKNEY  was  in  constant  attendance  upon  the  deliberations 
of  the  body,  although  he  took  no  part  in  the  discussions.  In 
one  of  his  letters  to  his  wife  he  says : 

"  All  our  debates  have  been  eminently  conservative  and  very  moderate  in 
tone.  One  pressing  discussion  was  of  the  most  thrilling  kind.  Tell  Capt. 
H.  that  Capt.  Duptnit  has  won  golden  opinions.  He  speaks  with  so  much 
candor  and  is  so  earnest.     Every  word  is  emphatic  and  effective. 

"  I  cannot  find  time  to  write  much.  I  shall  get  one  or  two  sermons  writ- 
ten. I  write  from  seven  to  half-past  nine,  «n-  thereabouts.  Then  I  go  to 
convention;  remain  there  until  three;  then  back  again  at  five:  then  at 
eight.  I  heard  Dr.  Hawks  yesterday.  He  is  every  incli  an  orator.  I  heard 
Dr.  Coxe  i)i  the  afternoon.  I  heard  Bishop  "Whipple  (the  new  Bishop),  and 
was  much  jilensed." 


LIFE    OF    IJISIIOP    I'INKNEY.  03 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

TiiK  Wai!   Tkoubleh.     1K(;(»  'CI. 

Whii-e  this  })astoral  work  was  going  on  quietly  and  steadily  in 
tlie  Church  of  the  Ascension  the  political  agitations  in  the  country 
were  daily  increasing,  and  n2«)n  the  issue  of  the  Presidential 
election  in  18G0  they  became  so  alarming  as  to  cause  throughout 
the  whole  land  the  most  anxious  apprehensions  as  to  the  stal)ility 
and  perpetuity  of  the  Union  of  the  States.  On  the  Thanksgiving- 
Day  for  that  3'ear,  and  on  the  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  recom- 
mended by  the  civil  authority  for  the  ■4th  of  January  following, 
the  condition  of  the  country,  in  its  blessings  and  in  its  perils,  verj 
natui'ally  became  the  suljject-niatter  of  discourse  in  all  iniljDits. 
On  both  occasions  Dr.  Pixkney  spoke  most  feelingly  touching  the 
state  of  the  country,  and  uttered  counsels  of  moderation  and  of 
broad  patriotic  devotion  to  the  National  Union.  Some  extracts 
from  his  sermon  on  the  Fast  Day,  afterward  published,  will  show 
how  poignantly  he  deplored  the  evils  of  the  times  and  how  hope- 
ful he  was  even  then  that  the  threatened  disasters  of  disunion  and 
civil  war  would  be  averted.  In  this  hope  he  was  doomed  to  dis- 
appointment, and  both  he  himself  and  his  church  were  called  to 
bear  their  share  very  grievously  in  the  troubles  of  the  times  for 
the  next  four  years.  In  his  sermon  on  the  Thanksgi\'ing  Day  he 
said: 

"  I  rejM'at  it,  if  the  North  and  South,  forgetful  of  these  ties,  separate, 
they  will  light  up  the  way  to  semi-barbarism  by  the  lurid  flames  that  will, 
in  all  probability,  not  be  fiueuc-hi'd,  save  in  the  extermination  of  one  or  the 
other  and  the  sure  degradation  of  both — I  say,  if  they  divide  and  separate 
the  two  great  integral  i)arts  of  this  once  glorious  Union.  I  have  a  lingering 
hope.  I  love  my  country,  my  whole  country.  North  and  South,  East  and 
West.  I  dej^recate  its  dismemberment.  I  shudder  when  I  think  that  the 
dispute  over  its  body  is  in  danger  of  being  settled  by  the  dividing  sword ; 
or  the  partition  of  it  witlumt  the  sword,  if  tliat  be  a  possibility  of  a  year's 
continuance." 


''  Our  ijrayer,  beloved,  is  for  the  restoration  of  peace  and  good  fellowship. 
Believing  that  it  is  GOD  who  maketh  men  to  be  of  one  mind  in  a  liousi' ; 
believing  that  we  .are  now  in  chastisement  for  our  sins,  sins  that  soil  the 
escutcheon  of  the  whole  nation,  we  are  in  sackcloth  and  ashes.  Oh  I  that 
He  who  rocked  the  cradle  of  our  infancy  in  miracle,  saved  us  in  the  dawn  of 
manhood  from  the  crumbling  timbers  of  the  rotten  confederation  and  Ijlessed 
us  with  the  good  old  Constitution,  from  whose  (piarter-deck  the  majestic 
tones  of  a  Washington,  the  wise  and  gentle  tones  of  a  Madison,  the  thunder 


94  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PIXKNEY. 

tones  of  a  "Webster,  the  clarion  trumpet  tones  of  a  Clay,  and  tlie  tones  of 
matchless  and  resistless  will  of  a  Jackson  have  been  heard  urging  fealty  to 
the  Government,  Oh  '.  that  He  in  the  way  that  seems  good  to  Him,  in  "this 
the  hour  of  our  necessitv.  mav  bring  us  once  more  into  unity  in  the  house- 
hold." 

Dr.  PixKNEY  writing-  to  Dr.  J.  H.  Alexander  early  in  April  of 
this  year,  when  the  sounds  of  the  coming  strife  were  ringing  in 
his  ears  and  warlike  preparations  going  on  all  around  him  m 
"Washington  city,  writes  to  his  friend  with  sadness  and  bodings 
of  e%-il  for  the  country.  His  letter,  though  dated  the  9th  of  April, 
was  not  received,  owing  to  some  delay  in  posting  it.  until  the  15th. 
and  elicited  from  Dr.  Alexander,  on  the  20th.  the  day  after  the 
memorable  outbreak  and  collision  in  Baltimore  with  troops  of  the 
United  States  from  Massachusetts  summoned  by  President  Lin- 
coln's proclamation,  a  reply  which  is  here  inserted. 

Dr.  Pinkney's  letter  is  as  follows : 

^'Rec.  Dr.  Pinkney  to  I)r.  J.  H.  Alexander. 

''  Washington,  April  9,  1861. 

"  Mv  Deab  Alexander:  Either  my  eyes  deceived  me,  or  your  card,  for 
one  thing  is  sure,  I  made  all  possible  haste  to  the  cars  the  evening  you  were 
at  church  to  meet  you.  in  the  fond  hope  that  perhaps  you  might  be  induced 
to  stop  at  Bladensburg  and  cheer  Mrs.  Pinkney  with  your  presence  and 
illuminate  Mr.  Lowndes,  for,  you  know,  he  thinks,  and  justly,  that  you  can 
enlighten  any  subject.  I  reached  there  just  as  they  were  starting  out.  but 
you  were  nowhere  to  be  found.  I  returned  ue.xt  day,  bitt  only  to  work,  as 
I  concluded  that  you  had  gone  to  Baltimore.  I  have  been  all  the  while  with 
the  sick  and  afflicted,  so  that  of  late  I  have  seen  but  little  of  home.  I  sup- 
pose this  terrible  Northeast  storm  will  prevent  your  coming  to  "Washington. 
When  you  do  I  will  try  to  save  you  such  perplexity  by  becoming  myself 
the  seeker  of  a  fi'iend  whose  converse  always  revives  a  heart  that  is  much 
oppressed. 

"I  was  delighted  when  I  heard  that  you  had  made  yourself  at  home  in 
my  ro(mi,  and  only  wish  you  had  been  with  me  at  Blenheim.  The  Judge  is 
always  pleased  with  you.  and  has  learned  from  me  to  regard  you  as  one  of 
the  few  whose  mind  is  thoroughly  furnished  at  every  point,  and  whose  heart 
is  in  the  right  place. 

"  Otir  poor  distracted  country  seems  to  be  drifting  on  I  know  not  where. 
"W^ise  counsellors  she  has  not.  Patriotism  is  at  a  low  ebb.  Party  spirit  is 
in  the  ascendant.  I  almost  de.spair.  Coercion  must  phmge  tis  in  the  horrors 
of  civil  war,  and  end  in  mutual  degradation  and  ruin.  The  Church  will 
suifer  considerably.  She  grows  most  rapidly  in  a  time  of  peace.  She  is  not 
a  gainer  by  agitation :  and,  what  is  most  .sad  to  think  upon,  her  rulers  are 
far  too  prone  to  plunge  into  fever  of  excitement,  and  themselves  become  the 
agitators  of  others. 

"  It  seems  to  be  the  madness  of  folly  to  so  mystify  the  condition  of  thirty 
millions  of  people.  Oi'ders  that  are  flooding  the  country  with  ai)in'ehension 
of  war.  the  nature  of  which  no  one  can  penetrate,  accumulating  f)u  the 
hands  of  those  who  are  the  subjects  of  them  :  marching  and  counter-march- 
ing of  troops  :  vessels  of  war  with  steam  all  up:  and  a  corps  of  carpenters 
for  rough  work,  to  be  done  we  know  not  where :  and  all  this  while  business 
stagnating,  and  real  estate  reduced  to  the  mere  value  of  brick  and  mortar,  while 
the  politicians  are  the  only  jjcople  clothed  in  purple.     It  occtirs  to  me  that 


LIFE    OF    lUSIIOl-    I'lNKNKY.  *}5 

our  rulers  forj^et  that  the  patieuec  of  a  peoph-  may  he  worn  out,  and  the  day 
of  resistance  eonie.  If  it  were  not  that  (iOD  sitteth  ahove  the  water-Hoods, 
Kintj;  forever,  I  should  l>e  without  hope.  As  it  is,  I  seem  to  feel  that  the 
scourj^e  is  near  us.  You  are  more  calm  and  hopeful.  I  trust  that  you  may 
he  ri',dit.  (rive  my  love  to  Mrs.  A.  and  Miss  A.  and  E.,  the  y(mn^i  ^'entle- 
men,  and  the  boys.  You  have  a  noble  <,n-oup  around  you,  antl  if  there  were 
more  such  households,  there  wfiuld  be  more  hojie  for  the  country.  *  *  * 
'•  Tlie  perusal  of  some  of  the  KnL,dish  journals  makes  me  not  a  little  appre- 
ht'usive  for  the  Church  in  Entcland.  Those  shocking,'  essays  strike  at  the 
very  root  of  all  that  is  precious  in  the  faith  of  our  fathers.  The  very  activity 
of  the  at,'e  seems  to  be  not  the  least  of  the  disturbim^  influences  at  "work.  I 
tind  refreshment  in  the  calm,  deep,  thoufi;htful  spirit  of  her  older  divines. 
and  sometimes  fancy  that  they  have  left  us  but  little  to  do.  save  to 
copy  after  their  noble  conservative  sjjirit,  and  real  heart-grasp  of  the 
unclian<,'in,<,f  mysteries  of  Godliness.  I  must  be<^  pardon  for  thi.s  e.xteni- 
porizinii;  letter  on  subjects  that  are  much  above  my  reach. 
"  Yours  affectionately, 

"  W.  riXKNEY." 

Dr.  Alexander,  in  his  reply,  after  toucliiiig  upon  some  other 
matters,  refers  to  the  occurrences  that  took  i)lace  on  the  19th  of 
April,  in  Baltimore,  and  to  tlie  fearful  issues  tliat  were  then  coming- 
up  before  the  c()untr3\     His  letter  is  as  follows : 

''Dr.  J.  II.  Alexander  to  liev.  Dr.  Plnkney: 

'' B.\LTiMoi!E,  20  April,  1«<".1. 

"  Deak  PiNKNEY :  Your  favor  of  the  '.itli  was  not  posted  until  the  14th, 
and  reached  me  next  day.  I  hope  ne.vt  time  we  shall  be  more  fortunate  in 
meeting  ;  for  to  me  it  is  a  great  refreshment.  When  the  servant  came  up 
last  evening  and  brought  me  Dr.  Pinkney's  name,  I  was  tilled  with  delight, 
for  I  thought  it  was  yourself.  It  tiirned  out  to  be  Ninian,  whom  I  was  also 
unfeignedly  glad  to  see  :  but  honestly  not  near  as  much  as  if  it  had  l)een  you 
in  one  of  those  sudden  little  escapades  of  yours,  which  are  so  pleasant  to  us. 
N.  came,  among  other  things,  to  talk  about  his  Chiciigo  business.  He  wanted 
to  see  Thomas,  who  was,  however,  absent,  and  he  left  the  pajiers  with  me  to 
be  delivered.  T.  has  not  yet  returned,  but  will  l)e  here  this  evening.  I 
had  seen  B.'s  death  notice  in  the  papers.  I  do  not  know  what  substantial 
difference  it  will  make  in  the  title  of  the  tenancy  in  common.  It  certainly 
makes  a  formal  one.  I  will  ask  T.  S.  about  that.  I  understood  from  N. 
that  the  affair  had  been  all  arranged  between  yourself  and  him.  When  the 
time  comes  to  hand  over  the  certificates  which  you  deposited  with  me,  pray 
give  me  a  written  order  to  that  effect,  if  you  do  not  receive  them  in  jjerson. 
I  have  old-fashioned  ideas  about  deposits,  and  never  take  a  verbal  or<ler  as 
sufficient  to  replace  a  written  document.  I  hope,  however,  you  will  run  uj) 
yourself  and  let  me  see  yoii.  I  am  always  at  home  from  11  A.  M.  to  M 
P.  M.  :   an<l  very  often  even  during  that  interval. 

'■  We  had  a  very  disagreeable  time  here  yesterday,  during  which  Baltimore 
fully  maintained  her  reputation  as  a  mob-town.  I  am  inclined  to  regard  the 
whole  thing  as  preconcerted,  with  a  view  to  driving  us  into  secession,  whether 
we  like  it  or  not.  Certainly  the  feeling  in  the  State  is  that  of  the  Union  ; 
though  each  man  liolils  that  feeling  upon  such  independent  grounds  that  it 
is  difficult  to  rely  u])on  any  organized  expression  or  on  action  under  it. 

'■  The  fact  is  that  the  radical  evil  of  our  form  of  government  and  phase  of 
society  is  the  predominance  of  and  exaggeration  of  the  indiridiidl  elements; 
each  man  and  boy  considers  the  Inisincss  and  function  of  every  other  man 
or  bov  to  be  their  own.      Everv  one  hears  continuallv  that    the  barefooted 


06  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

•,'aiuiu  of  the  streets  may  be  the  Presidt-ut  of  the  Uuited  States  some  day  . 
and  he  ac-ts  every  day  as  if.  he  was  President.  Private  jiidgment  is  held  to 
be  essential  to  the  independence  of  the  citizen  :  and  a  contempt  for  all  avithor- 
ity  is  the  necessary  consecjueuce.  and  mobs  the  natural  result.  Now  this  is 
all  wTong.  The  catechism  which  you  and  I  have  repeated  for  forty  years 
says,  amon^'  other  things,  that  we  are  to  do  our  duty  in  that  station  in  which 
it  has  pleased  GOD  to  call  us  :  but  we  act  just  as  if  it  was  to  do  the  duty  to 
which  (iOD  has  n»t  called  us.  I  do  not  think  the  apjjarent  p(jlicy  of  the 
present  I'nited  States  Government  wise,  and  have  tried  by  decent  repre- 
sentations to  amend  it.  But,  if  it  is  persisted  in,  my  duty  as  a  good  citizen 
is  clear,  viz..  to  obey  the  constituted  authorities  with  whcmi  is  the  responsi- 
bility both  here  and  "hereafter.  And  these  constituted  authorities  are  entitled 
to  respect  just  in  proportion  to  the  magnitude  of  their  scope  and  the  conse- 
quent weight  of  their  responsibility.  The  United  States  Government  goes 
above  a  State  :  the  State  above  a  town  :  a  town  above  its  wards.  Ac.  It  is 
only  by  some  principle  of  this  sort  that  we  can  avoid  perpetual  collisions 
which  "we  have  only  escaped  hitherto  in  the  sparseness  of  our  population. 
Wherever  that  population  is  dense  we  have  realized  ever  and  anon  the  mob 
spirit  and  practice.  Hence  I  am  a  Union  man  unconditionally  as  long  as 
there  is  a  shred  of  a  government  de  jure.  "When  there  comes  to  be  nothing 
but  a  government  de  facto,  and  only  then,  shall  I  think  myself  thrown 
upon  my  private  judgment  and  individual  res])onsibility,  and  will  then 
tight  like  Harry  of  the  Wynd  on  my  own  hand.  It  is  only  thus  by  placing 
the  responsibility  where  it  properly  and  providentially  belongs  that  I  can 
relieve  my  C(niscience  in  being  a  participator,  however  involiintarily,  in 
the  deeds  of  violence  and  bloodshed  which  are  being  inaugiirated.  I  wish 
you  woirld  think  over  the  subject  and  compose  a  sermon  on  the  limits  of 
iiumau  responsibility,  taking  St.  Paul's  words,  "  not  going  beyond  my  own 
line."  &c..  or  some  other  of  the  numerous  texts  which  teach  the  same  doc- 
trine. I  think  such  a  discourse  would  be  eminently  appropriate  and  exceed- 
ingly valuable. 

••  Pray  give  my  love  at  home,  and  believe  me  alway,  dear  Pinkne}^, 
•'  Your  all'ectionate 

"J.  H.  A. ." 

While  cleiDrecating  c-ivil  war.  iu  l)otli  its  secular  and  religious 
aspects.  Dr.  Pixkney  still  clierished,  as  late  as  May  the  -Ith,  the 
liope  of  amicable  settlement  upon  some  basis  of  mutual  satisfac- 
tion for  the  contending  sections  of  the  country.  These  hoj^es, 
and  his  views  touching  the  question  at  issue  between  the  North 
and  the  South,  he  very  freely  exi:)ressed  in  a  letter  of  that  date, 
and  in  sul)sequent  letters,  to  a  Northern  friend,  with  whom  he 
was  in  the  closest  intimacy  and  in  a  very  loving  friendship,  and 
in  doing  so  he  expressed  his  determiiiation,  as  a  minister  of  the 
Church  of  Chi'ist,  in  the  words  following : 

"As  for  myself.  I  have  determined,  not  to  disciiss  the  matter,  but  shall 
content  myself  with  the  ])lain,  ])ractical  teachings  of  the  Gospel;  believing 
that  in  that  way  most  eliectuahy.  as  far  as  my  limited  influence  extends,  I 
shall  jjromote  the  great  object  all  good  men  must  have  in  view — the  avoid- 
ance of  war  on  any  honorable  terms." 

Again,  in  the  same  letter,  he  says : 

■'  My  thoughts  are  turned  on  peace.  I  shall  continue  to  hope  for  it  and 
pray  for  it.  I  shall  strive  to  preach  the  Gosjiel  of  peace  while  I  have  the 
privilege.      I  shall  inHame  no  man's  love  of  blood  and  carnage." 


lifp:  of  liisiioi-  l■IM^M;^.  97 

The  Northeni  friend  above  refeneil  to  wns  the  Hon.  Sniuiitl 
H.  Huntingtou,  of  Hartford,  Conn.  Jud-^e  Huntington  held  an 
official  iK)sition  iu  the  Court  of  Chdms  and  was  renident  in  ^Vahh- 
ington  city  during  the  greater  part  of  eac-h  year  for  a  period  of 
more  thtui  fourteen  years.  Ui)ou  coming  to  the  city  he  connected 
himself  -with  the  Church  of  the  Ascension,  of  which  Di'.  Pi.nk.nky 
had  recently  become  the  rector.  A  very  warm  ami  congenial 
friendship  grew  uj)  between  them.  For  a  jjcriod  the  two  friendrt 
had  adjoining  rooms  in  the  same  Iniilding.  often  taking  their  mealn 
together,  discussing  the  topics  of  the  day  in  Chin-ch  and  State,  and 
conducting  mutual  readings  in  literature  and  theology.  During 
the  absence  of  the  Judge  from  "Washington,  on  his  vacations,  a 
close  and  frequent  correspondence,  to  whicli  there  will  be  occiv- 
sional  reference  in  this  biography,  w^as  kejit  up  between  them. 
Long  years  after,  Bishop  Pinkney,  in  one  of  his  letters,  WTites : 

"  From  the  day  I  iirst  met  you,  I  was  drawn  to  you  :  and  every  day's  sub- 
sequent intercourse  has  only  strengthened  the  hohl  you  have  upon  niyheart.'* 

When  death  separated  them,  in  1870.  Bishoj)  Pinkney  paid  a  just 
and  beautiful  tribute  to  his  memory  in  a  published  obituary,  iuid 
in  his  addi-ess  at  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese  ha  IHHO  he  referred 
very  fully  to  the  eminent  character  and  services  of  this  beloved 
and  valued  friend  and  churchman. 

Judge  Huntington  was  a  man  of  intellectual  culture,  of  manners, 
and  tastes  most  refined,  of  devoted  attachment  to  the  Church  iu 
all  her  sacred  ordinances,  free  from  all  tendency  to  extremes  in 
doctrinal  teaching  or  ritual  observance.  In  his  own  diocese  of 
Connecticut  he  was  an  active  jiromoter  of  Church  work,  occupy- 
ing important  positions  as  a  layman  and  delegate  in  the  Diocesan 
and  General  Conventions.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Missions  of  the  General  Church.  In  his 
political  sentiments  Judge  Huntington  was  a  decided  Union  nnui. 
He  did  not  think,  however,  that  he  was  compromising  his  jirinci- 
ples,  or  acting  inconsistently  with  his  duty  in  the  official  ])osition 
he  held  under  the  Federal  Government,  by  his  close  intimacy  with 
Dr.  Pinkney  and  his  attendance  upon  his  ministrations  in  the 
Church  of  the  Ascension.  And  on  Dr.  Pinkneys  part,  there  was. 
nothing  in  his  principles  and  in  the  views  which  he  entertained  of 
the  war  and  of  the  measures  of  the  Federal  Government  for  its 
prosecution,  that  precluded  him  from  the  most  tender  association 
with  his  friend.  It  was  alike  creditable  to  them  both  that  they 
could  rise  above  the  prejudices,  the  party  strifes,  and  the  ranc-t)r- 
ous  feelings  of  the  times,  and  hold  themselves  mutually  dear  to 
each  other  in  the  bonds  of  a  loving  friendship. 

Dr.  Pinkney  shared  in  the  dismal  apprehensions,  then  so  largely 
felt  by  many  of  the  most  thoughtful  and  patriotic  in  the  country, 
that  the  internecine  strife  once  commenced  would  result  in  noth- 


98  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

iug  but  exterminatiou  ou  the  one  side  or  the  other,  or  woiikl 
l)rodure  such  tierce  aud  vindictive  hatred  between  the  sections  as 
to  render  hopeless  any  future  restoration  of  the  Union  on  a  solid 
and  enduring-  liasis  of  mutual  and  recognized  rights  in  the  States. 
These  apprehensions,  happily,  were  not  realized  to  the  extent 
anticipated,  as  the  restored  Union  and  the  return  of  amity  and  con- 
cord between  the  North  and  the  South  has  proven — a  restoration 
which  can  surely  be  made  j^erpetual  if  the  old,  dead  issues  of  the 
War  and  the  old  strifes  are  not  revived  by  self-aggrandizing  poli- 
ticians. 

These  troubles,  civil  and  ecclesiastical,  growing  out  of  the 
War,  are  here  only  so  far  referred  to  as  the}^  bore  upon  the  sub- 
ject of  this  biography,  Avho,  with  his  Church  and  peoj)le,  was 
under  the  immediate  and  exclusive  government,  civilly,  of  the 
Federal  power,  and  at  the  same  time  ecclesiastically  under  the 
S2)iritual  jurisdiction  of  the  Bishop  of  Maryland,  within  whose 
diocese  the  District  of  Columbia  was  included. 

While  Dr.  Pixkney  ^delded  to  none  in  his  devotion  to  the  Union 
of  the  whole  country'  under  the  Constitution,  he  at  the  same  time 
maintained  the  rights  of  the  States  under  the  compact  of  the 
Constitution,  and  believed  that  a  coercive  war  by  the  Federal 
Government  to  subdue  the  Southern  States  was  unconstitutional. 

Born  and  reared  under  the  insignia  of  the  National  Union,  and 
of  the  State  sovereignty,  he  felt  that  his  allegiance  Avas  alike 
due  to  both  in  theu-  respective  spheres ;  that  no  encroachments 
by  the  one  upon  the  prerogatives  of  the  other  could,  under  theii" 
Constitutions,  be  justified.  Hence  while  he  was  not  an  "  uncon- 
ditional'Unionist,"  so  neither  was  he  a  "secessionist"  in  the 
sense  in  which  that  term  was  apj^lied  to  stigmatize  many  of  the 
truest  friends  of  the  Union  and  the  noblest  champions  of  the 
rights  of  the  States  under  the  Federal  Constitution.  That  Con- 
stitution was  a  compromise  in  its  spirit  and  letter,  and  coiild  not 
otherwise  have  been  adopted.  It  was  based  upon  mutual  con- 
cessions by  the  several  States  that  became  jjarties  to  it.  While 
it  stood  unchanged  in  its  integrity,  it  was  to  l^e  observed  under 
the  strictest  limitations.  To  Dr.  Pinkney,  as  to  many  others  in 
Maryland  and  throughout  the  Southern  States,  the  political 
movements  in  1860  which  culminated  in  the  election  of  a  Presi- 
dent by  a  sectional  party  of  known  and  avowed  hostility  to  the 
institution  of  slavery,  as  it  existed  at  the  South,  under  the  pro- 
tection of  the  shield  of  the  Federal  Constitution,  seemed  to 
threaten  the  destruction  of  the  whole  system  of  social,  domestic, 
and  industrial  organizatioii  in  the  Southern  States.  It  was  the 
foreshadowing  of  a  war  between  the  States,  North  and  South,  the 
very  idea  of  which  was  repugnant  to  every  loyal  and  patriotic 
feeling  of  Dr.  Pinkney's  heart. 

The  people  of  Maryland  for  the  most  i:)art  Avere  warm  and  out- 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   PINKNEY.  99 

spoken  in  their  sympiithy  with  the  South.  ]\rjiny  of  their  youthful 
sons  hastened  to  eross  the  hnes  uud  join  the  Confederate  forces. 
Of  the  permanent  residents  hi  Washington,  many  individuals  and 
families  were  closely  allied  by  domestic  ties  and  lovin<,' associations 
with  Virginians  and  the  people  of  the  South.  These  Southern 
sympathizers,  both  in  Maryland  and  in  the  District  of  Coluinl)ia, 
were,  with  some  excepticms,  quiescent,  saying  and  doing  nothing 
to  make  themselves  obnoxious  to  the  Goverinnent  ;  but  f(jr  that 
very  reason  they  were  suspected  as  disloyal  and  were  stigmatized 
as  secessionists.  They  were  accordingly  watched  by  detectives, 
their  premises  searched  by  otttcials  for  evidence  of  disloyalty,  and 
in  many  instances  they  were  arbitrarily  arrested,  and,  without  legal 
process  or  opportunity  for  trial,  incarcerated  in  Government  fort- 
resses. 

The  rector  of  the  Ascension  in  AVashington,  with  a  large  pro- 
portion of  his  parishioners,  and  very  many  of  the  leading  clergy 
in  Maryland,  with  their  wealthy  congregations,  found  themselves 
in  this  position — made  the  more  painful  and  embarrassing  because 
it  brought  them  into  conflict  with  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese. 
Bishop  Whittiugham  from  the  beginning  threw  all  the  influence 
of  his  marked  personality  and  the  weight  of  his  high  office  on  the 
side  of  the  Federal  Government  in  its  prosecution  of  the  War. 
The  Bishop,  thoroughly  sincere,  strong  in  his  convictions,  deter- 
mined in  his  actions,  felt  that  the  ol)ligations  of  his  office  and  of 
his  loyalty  to  the  General  Government  re(pau-ed  him  to  use  the 
full  force  of  his  Episcopal  influence  and  power  in  sustaiiung  the 
w^arHke  measures  of  the  Government,  and  in  seeking  to  secure  for 
those  measures  the  apj)roval  and  co-operation  of  his  clergy  and 
theii'  congregations.  As  the  War  progressed  the  ecclesiastical 
troubles  in  the  diocese  increased. 

There  were  two  things  that  rendered  the  position  of  very  man}- 
in  the  diocese  jDectiliarly  trying,  and  caused  troubles  in  some  of 
the  chiu-ches,  not  felt  to  the  same  extent  and  in  like  ways  by  the 
other  religious  bodies. 

The  one  arose  from  the  use  of  the  "  prayer  for  the  President  of 
the  United  States  and  all  in  civil  authority,"  which  prayer  being 
incorporated  in  the  daily  service  of  the  Church  was  obligatory  m 
its  use  on  all  occasions  of  public  worship.  It  embodied  petitions, 
however,  w-hich  could  not  be  conscientiously  united  in  bj-  many 
in  the  churches,  and  therefore  led,  in  some  instances,  to  absences 
from  the  public  worship,  and  in  others  to  some  significant  acts 
expressive  of  refusal  to  join  in  the  petition.  Still  the  prayer  was 
used  by  the  clergy  in  the  churches,  with  perhai)s  some  exceptional 
cases,  when,  in  anticipation  of  the  passage  of  an  act  of  secession 
by  the  Legislature  of  the  State,  the  Bishop,  in  April,  18C1,  issued 
a  private  and  confidential  circular  to  the  clergy,  stating  it  to  be 
his  intention  in  that  contingfencv  to  issue  his  authorization  for  the 


100  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    FINKNEY. 

omission  of  tlie  words  "  President  of  the  United  States,"  and  the 
substitution  therefor  of  the  phrase  "  Thy  servants  in  ci^dl  author- 
ity." The  contingency,  however,  did  not  occur ;  and  the  Bishop, 
in  a  subsecjuent  circular,  severely  censured  those  who,  from  his 
anticipated  action,  or  from  their  own  judgment  as  to  the  expedi- 
ency of  such  a  course,  may  have,  in  some  instances,  omitted  the 
prayer.  He  also  in  that  cii'cular  declared  his  pm-pose  to  be,  on 
evidence  of  any  such  omissions  in  the  service,  to  present  the 
clergyman  •'  for  the  violation  of  his  ordination  vow  by  the  mutila- 
tion^of  the  worship  of  the  Church."'  *  It  is  not  known  that  Dr. 
PiNKXEY,  in  any  single  instance,  omitted  the  prayer  for  the  Presi- 
dent in  the  public  ser\dces  of  his  church. 

The  other  source  of  trouble  to  many  of  the  clergy  and  churches 
in  Maryland  and  the  District  of  Columbia  grew  out  of  the  pos- 
session and  exercise  of  the  power  lodged  in  the  Bishop,  of 
setting  forth,  for  use  by  all  the  clergy  and  congregations  in  his 
diocese,  certain  special  prayers  or  thanksgi\T.ngs  and  forms  of 
devotion  for  "  extraordinary  occasions."  It  rested  with  the 
Bishoi),  in  his  sole  discretion  and  judgment,  to  determine  whether 
the  '•  occasions  "  were  such  as  to  call  for  the  issue  of  any  special 
forms  of  devotion ;  which,  however,  when  set  forth  by  him  were 
to  be  "  transmitted  to  each  clergyman  within  his  diocese." 

The  language  of  the  clause  of  the  canon  is  as  follows : 

"Digest,  title  i,  canon  15,  §  xiii.  The  Bishop  of  each  diocese  may  com- 
pose forms  of  praj-er  or  thanksgiving,  as  the  case  may  require,  for  extra- 
ordinary occasions,  and  transmit  them  to  each  clergyman  within  his  diocese, 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  use  such  forms  in  his  church  on  such  occasions." 

It  may  be  an  open  or  debatable  question  whether,  under  our 
civil  government,  and  the  separation  of  Church  and  State  in 
their  distinct  and  unconnected  spheres,  any  religious  bodies  in 
their  officials  or  members  are  so  bound  as  to  regard  days 
appointed  or  recommended  by  the  civil  authority  as  of  obligation 
for  religious  service.  There  are  certain  religious  bodies  in  the 
land,  as  the  Quakers  or  Friends,  and  some  others,  who  do  not 
hold  themselves  under  conscience  and  due  allegiance  to  the  Gov- 
ernment bound  to  observe  such  days ;  and  yet  they  are  not  on 
that  account  obnoxious  to  any  charge  of  disloyalty.  While  in 
many  instances  it  may  be  eminently  proper  to  observe  such 
recommendations  of  the  civil  authority,  and  they  can  never  be 
anything  more  than  recommendations,  there  is  a  certain  and 
inherent  power  in  the  Church,  as  separate  from  the  State,  to 
determine  for  herself,  in  her  officials  and  members,  as  to  her  own 
observance  of  them.  The  Government  does  not  recognize  the 
Church  in  any  way  or  sense.  What  the  Government  does  is 
simply  to  protect  certain  persons  or  classes  of  persons,  not  as 

♦See  Dr.  Brand's  Life  of  Bishop  Wliittingham,  vol.  ii.  pp.  17-li). 


J 


LIFE    OF    I'.ISHOI'    I'lNKNFA'.  101 

cliurolimen  or  roligionists  of  uiiy  sect,  but  as  oitizons  or  nu'iiilK-rK 
of  tlie  body  politic,  in  tlie  ijrojjorty  which  us  Kuch  citizens  tlicy 
may  have  in  trust,  though  for  rcHgious  euds  and  uses,  and  in  the 
exercise  of  such  rehgious  offices  and  duties  as  they  may  hohl  and 
perform,  provided  always  they  do  not  trench  upon  the  rij^'hts  (jf 
others  or  violate  the  civil  enactments. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  great  civil  struggle  it  was  almost 
universally  recognized  by  the  difterent  religious  bodies  as  a  most 
needful  and  dutiful  thing  under  such  ti'ials  to  make  s])ecial  suj)- 
plications  and  prayers  to  Almighty  GOD  to  turn  away  from  us  the 
calamities  we  had  justly  incurred  for  our  sins  as  a  peo2)le,  and  to 
restore  to  us  peace,  unity,  and  concord. 

Frequent  were  the  occasions  during  the  war  when  the  civil 
authority  in  Washington  issued  proclamations  recommending  the 
observance  of  certain  days  of  fasting,  prayer,  and  humiliation, 
for  which  Bishop  "NVhittingham  set  forth  special  forms  to  be  used 
in  all  the  churches  of  the  diocese.  There  is  no  doubt  that  the 
Bishop,  with  his  strong  and  determined  Union  feelings,  sought 
to  make  them  as  little  oftensive  as  he  could  to  those  who  differed 
from  him.  This  was  especially  true  of  the  first  prayers  issued  by 
him,  in  April,  1861 :  which  were  generallj'  accepted  throughout 
the  diocese. 

These  prayers  *  were  as  follows  : 

"  Pkayers  for  the  Country. 

"  O  UKJst  powerful  aud  glorious  Lord  God  1  the  Lord  of  Hosts  that  rulest 
and  commandest  all  things:  Thou  sittest  on  the  throne  judgihg  right,  aud 
therefore  we  naake  our  address  to  Thy  Divine  Majesty  in  this  our  necessity, 
that  Thou  wouldst  take  the  cause  into  Thine  own  hands,  and  judge  between 
those  who  are  engaged  in  the  miserable  strife  which  now  distracts  our  land. 
Stir  up  Thy  strength.  U  Lord  !  and  come  and  help  us  :  for  Thou  givest  not 
the  battle  to  the  strong,  but  canst  save  by  many  or  by  few.  Oh.  let  not  nur 
sins  now  cry  against  lis  for  vengeance:  but  hear  us.  Thy  poor  servants, 
begging  mercy  and  imploring  Thy  help  that  Th<ni  woiildst  be  a  defence  unto 
us,  against  the  face  of  every  one  who  would  do  us  wrong.  Make  it  appear 
that  Thou  art  our  Saviour  and  Mighty  Deliverer,  through  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord.     Amen. 

"  O  Almighty  Godl  the  Supreme  Governor  of  all  things,  whose  power  no 
creature  is  able  to  resist,  to  whom  it  belongeth  justly  to  punish  sinners, 
and  to  be  merciful  to  those  who  truly  repent,  save  us  now.  we  humbly 
beseech  Thee,  aud  assiiage  the  tumult  by  which  this  people  is  rent  and  torn: 
that  we,  being  armed  with  Thy  defence,  may  be  preserved  evermore  from 
all  peril  to  glorify  Thee,  who  art  the  giver  of  all  victory,  through  the  merits 
of  Thy  Son,  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.     Amen." 

Along  with  the  prayers  the  Bishop  issued  a  circular. 

These  first  prayers  issued  by  the  Bishop  Dr.  PiXKNEVused,  and, 
it  is  believed,  continued  to  use,  in  his  church  during  the  whole 
j)eriod  of  the  AYar.     By  adhering  strictly  and  constantly  to  the 

*See  Dr.  Brand's  Life  of  Bishop  Whittingham.  vol.  ii.  p.  U'k 


102  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    riNKNEY. 

prayers  first  set  fortli  by  the  Bishop,  aud  heediug  the  counsels  of 
l)eace  contained  in  the  circuhar  of  the  Bishop  sent  out  with  them, 
Dr.  PiXKXEY  thought  that  he  fully  met  the  canonical  requirements. 
His  connection  -with  these  AVar  troubles  is  thus  fully  stated, 
because  it  brought  out  that  independence  of  mind  and  character 
■which  was  a  part  of  his  very  nature  as  a  man  and  a  true  priest  in 
the  Church  of  GOD.  "\Miile  he  religiously  revered  and  consci- 
entioush'^  obeyed  his  superiors  in  both  Church  and  State,  in  the 
exercise  of  then-  canonical  and  legallj^  constituted  powers,  he 
recognized  and  adhered  to  the  rights  of  his  citizenship  in  the  State 
and  of  his  priesthood  in  the  Church.  In  this  he  showed  his  man- 
liness, his  courage,  and  his  readiness  to  meet  any  consecpiences 
that  mio-ht  result  from  his  course. 


LIFE    OF    J'.ISIIOP    ITNKNKV.  l(i:; 


CHAPTER   XIY. 

The  War  Tkoubles  Continukd — The  Episcopate  of  Alabama— Political 
Prayers — Military  Occupation  of  the  Ascension — Presentment  by 
THE  Bishop.     18(!1-'62. 

During  these  political  excitements  in  Washinf^^ton,  and  wliile 
warlike  measures  for  the  coercion  of  the  Southern  States  wcrc( 
being  prepared  and  taken,  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese  of  Ala- 
bama met  in  jMontg-omery  to  fill  the  vacancy  in  the  Ejjiscopate 
caused  by  the  death  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Cobbs.  The  conven- 
tion met  in  May,  18(51.  Rev.  Dr.  Pinknev's  name  was  brought 
before  the  convention  to  be  voted  for  as  Bishoj:).  He  was  nomi- 
nated, or  elected,  by  the  votes  of  the  clergy :  but  the  nomination 
was  not  confirmed  by  the  laity.  There  was  no  fm'ther  voting  for 
Bishop  at  that  session,  and  the  ccmventiou  adjourned  to  meet  in 
special  session  in.  October  following,  when  the  present  Bishop, 
Dr.  R.  H.  Wilmer,  was  elected  by  the  votes  of  both  orders. 

The  rejection  or  failure  on  the  part  of  the  laity  to  confirm  Dr. 
PiNKNEY  as  the  choice  of  the  clergy  is  supposed  to  have  arisen 
either  from  a  previous  determination  by  the  laity  to  confirm  no 
other  election  of  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  than  that  of  a  certain 
person  whom  they  wanted  for  their  Bishop,  and  whom  the  clergy 
were  not  willing  to  nommate  or  vote  for ;  or,  it  may  have  arisen 
from  the  belief  that  a  clergyman  who,  under  the  political  excite- 
ments of  the  time  could  reconcile  himself  to  remain  in  Washing- 
ton, the  seat  of  hostilities  against  the  South,  could  hardly  be 
sufficiently  sympathetic  with  Southern  interests  and  feelings  to  be 
the  Bishop  of  Alabama. 

It  would  seem  from  the  following  letter  of  Dr.  Pinknev,  written 
some  time  after  the  adjournment  of  the  convention  in  May,  that 
his  name  had  been  brought  before  the  convention  without  his 
concurrence  or  approval.  The  letter,  though  it  is  not  certain 
that  it  was  sent,  is  here  given,  because  it  so  fully  and  strongly 
expresses  Dr.  Pinkney's  sentiments  and  views  touching  all  matters 
of  change  of  pastoral  relations,  and  particularly  in  that  most 
solemn  of  all  matters,  the  choice  or  selection  of  a  Bishop  in  the 
Church  of  GOD. 

"  Rev.  Br.  Pinkney  to  the  Rev.  J.  J.  N. 

"  Rev.  and  Dear  Brother  :  Yours  of  the  24tli  is  just  received  ;  aud  as  it  is 
altogether  too  late  for  any  answer  of  mine  to  reach  Montgomery  at  the  time 
you  desire  it,  I  have  only  to  e.xpress  to  you.  and  through  you  to  those  who 
shared  your  confidence  in  me,  ray  thanks  "for  the  honor  which  that  contidence 
expresses.     It  is  the  more  gratifying  because  it  was  altogetlicr  unexpected. 


104  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

I  did  not  suppose  there  was  any  one  in  Alabama  whose  thoughts  were  seri- 
ously turned  on  me.  Now  that  the  (question  is  settled,  and  there  is  no 
possibility  ot  auythin<;  that  I  may  say  influencing  in  the  slightest  degree 
your  decision,  I  would  observe  that  no  one  in  Maryland  was  authorized  to 
speak  for  me  ;  no,  not  the  nearest  and  dearest  friend  I  have.  For  this  is  a 
subject  which  I  have  never  dared  to  entertain  for  a  moment.  I  would  not. 
for  worlds,  influence  a  single  vote  in  a  convention  assembled  to  choose  a 
Bishop  over  the  Hoiise  of  GOD. 

"  I  have  a  deep  and  abiding  conviction  that  the  Providence  of  GOD  should 
he  left  to  the  undisturbed  settlement  of  such  a  question  :  not  that  I  doubt 
that  it  is  the  bounden  duty  of  every  diocese  to  make  the  most  careful  and 
diligent  search  into  the  private  character,  the  personal  bearing,  the  mental 
and  moral  qualifications  of  all  those  whose  names  are  placed  before  them,  in 
connection  with  so  fearful  an  oflBce.  They  should  be  satisfied  upon  every 
point  of  doctrine  and  of  practice,  as  well  as  such  coincidedness  of  views  in 
all  their  internal  institutions  as  would  secure  their  harmony  and  peace.  _  But 
it  does  not  seem  to  me  that  any  expression  of  opinion  should  be  called  for 
from  one  whose  name  is  brought  forward  without  his  knowledge,  which 
would  make  him,  even  in  appearance,  directly  or  indirectly,  an  actor  in  so 
stupendous  a  deed.  I  appreciate  the  beautiful  and  touching  delicacy  of  the 
letter  you  wrote.  It  speaks  volumes  for  the  noble-hearted  clergy  of  Alabama. 
And  yet,  even  to  the  simple  question  you  ask,  that  same  sense  of  delicacy 
Tvhich  animated  your  bosom  would,  it  seems  to  me,  commend  my  silence. 

"  My  rule  of  life,  since  I  assumed  the  ofiice  of  a  Priest  of  GOD,  has  been 
never  to  consider  any  question  of  magnitude  until  it  is.  in  the  Providence  of 
GOD,  fairly  and  fully  presented.  I  have  a  horror  of  becoming  the  carver-out 
■of  my  own  destiny.  For  twenty  years  Providence  left  me  to  toil  on  in  a  small 
and  obscure,  though  very  laborious  and  dear,  field  of  labor,  and  I  was  con- 
tented and  happy.  When  I  cut  the  cable  in  the  midocean  of  life,  I  did  it 
nnder  the  wellnigh  fatherly  command  of  my  Bishop.  To  go  where  GOD 
calls,  I  hold  to  be  a  duty  fi'om  which  no  true  minister  should  shrink.  But 
it  must  be  irfiere  GOD  calln ;  therefore  there  can  be  no  consideration  of  the 
subject  until  it  is  presented  in  tangible  form,  and  no  intimation  of  jjurpose 
nntil  after  such  full  and  prayerful  consideration.  I  have  an  awful  dread  of 
the  office.  I  feel  fully  conscious  that  I  have  nothing  but  the  kind  judgment 
of  the  fi'iends  GOD  has  given  me  to  recommend  me  to  the  confidence 
you  have  rejjosed  in  me.  And  above  all,  to  follow  in  the  footprints  of  the 
sainted  Cobbs,  the  man  whose  zeal  and  consiimmate  wisdom  and  Apostolic 
simplicity  have  won  for  him  the  love  and  reverence  of  all  the  Church,  might 
well  cause  the  strongest  of  us  to  pause  and  hesitate,  much  more  the  weakest 
of  us  all. 

"I  trust  that  Providence  will  send  you  a  true  Bishoji,  one  equal  to  the 
crisis :  and  no  one  in  the  list  of  the  clergy  will  more  cordially  congratulate 
you  upon  the  choice  you  may  make.  A  much  wiser  and  better  man  is,  I 
trust,  in  store  for  you.  And  before  this  reaches  you,  sitch  a  man  will  be 
placed  over  you  by  your  own  fi'ee  choice.  To  you,  my  dear  brother,  and  to 
those  who  united  with  you  in  the  sentiments  expressed  in  your  letter,  I  am 
much  indebted.  The  love  and  respect  of  the  good  and  the  gifted  we  all 
prize,  h(jwever  painfully  we  may  be  impressed  with  the  couscioitsness  that 
they  sadly  overrate  us.  Providence  has  decided  for  lis,  and  I  am  glad  it  is 
So.  You  are  saved  fi"om  the  selection  of  a  Bishop,  with  the  possibility  of  his 
non-acceptance,  and  I  from  the  consequences  of  responsibility  which  my 
decision  of  the  qiiestion  must  have  involved. 

Wishing  y<m  and  the  dear  brethren  who  were  willing  to  take  a  stranger  to 
your  hearts,  not  from  the  sphere  of  a  previous  Vn-illiant  success,  but  from 
the  ranks  of  an  humble  and  obsciu-e  parish  life.  Godspeed, 

"  I  am,  vours  aflectionatelv, 
"Rev.  J.  J.  N.  *  WILLIAM  PINKNEY." 


LIFE    OF    ISISHOl'    l-INKNFY.  lOf) 

The  above  lotter  is  witliout  dato  ;  but  the  contents  show  that 
it  must  have  been  written  while  the  matter  of  an  eh^-tion  of 
Bishop  for  Alal)ama  *  was  pending,  and  that  so  far  as  he  hinjself 
was  concerned  Dr.  Pinkney  had  no  desire,  or  aspiration,  or  expec- 
tation in  rehition  to  it.  Hapijily  it  was  that,  in  the  then  distressing 
state  of  the  poHtical  affairs  of  the  country,  he  was  not  calk-d  to 
decide  upon  his  course  in  this  important  matter. 

As  the  Civil  War  progressed,  in  its  changing  fortunes  and  with 
its  increasing  excitements,  Preside}it  Lincoln  issued,  from  time 
to  time,  prochimations  calling  upon  the  Christian  l)odies  in  the 
land  for  religious  ol^servances  of  prayers  and  tlianksgi\ings.  For 
these  occasions  extraordinary,  as  they  arose,  Bishoj)  Whit  ting- 
ham  issued  special  forms  of  praj^ers  to  be  used  by  the  clergy  of 
the  diocese,  and  sometimes  accompanied  them  with  a  pastoral 
letter. 

In  the  meantime  there  had  grown  up  among  very  many  of  the 
clergy  and  laity  in  the  diocese,  a  strong  feeling  of  disapproval 
and  even  of  hostility,  resj^ecting  the  Bishop's  course,  so  that  the 
Church  in  Maryland  was  thrown  into  a  most  calamitous  state  of 
agitation. 

It  is  well  known  that  early  in  April,  1862,  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee, acting  on  their  own  movement  as  "  a  council  of  adWce,'' 
addressed  to  the  Bishop  a  communication,  most  respectful, 
dutiful,  and  even  affectionate  in  its  terms,  touching  the  political 
troubles  of  the  times  in  their  bearing  upon  the  mterests  and 
welftu'e  of  the  Church.  They  counselled,  under  the  exigencies  of 
the  Church,  an  abstentation  from  all  official  acts  in  the  issuing  of 
si:)ecial  prayers  and  thanksgivings,  that  would  tend,  under  the 
excitements  of  the  jjeriod,  to  disturb  the  peace  of  the  Church, 
and  bring  about  collisions  of  the  clergy  and  their  congregations 
with  the  Bishop  of  the  diocese,  for  whose  person  tliej'  expressed 
the  highest  veneration,  and  for  wdaose  peac^eful  and  happy 
administration  in  his  Episcopate  they  felt  profound  concern. 

From  the  beginning  to  the  close  of  the  Civil  War  the  city  of 
Washington  became  the  seat  and  centre  of  most  intense  excite 
ment,  and  of  most  active  measures  foi-  the  prosecution  of  the 
War.  The  excitement  pervaded  all  classes.  Families  were 
divided.  Kelations  and  friends  were  alienated.  Suspicions  were 
everywhere  awakened.  No  one  dared  to  express  any  sentiments 
that  were  not  in  full  unison  with  those  of  the  Federal  Goveru- 


*It  is  well  known  that  after  the  War,  when  the  matter  of  reunion  came 
before  the  Church,  this  question  of  the  election  and  ecjnsecration  of  Dr. 
Wilmer,  in  the  Confederate  States,  without  the  knowled'^e  and  concurrence 
of  the  Church  in  the  non-seceding  States,  as  provided  for  in  the  canons  of 
the  General  Church,  occasioned  some  anxiety  as  to  a  satisfactory  and  complete 
reunion  of  the  Church  throuudiout  the  United  States.  The  ditticulties  in 
this  case  were,  however,  all  liappilv  removed.  (See  the  Kev.  Dr.  brand's 
Life  of  Bishop  Whittingham.  vol.  ii,'  ])]).  Od,  W).) 


106  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PIXKNEY. 

ment.  The  eburches  in  the  city  covilcl  not  but  feel  and  be 
disturbed  b}-  these  troubles.  Because  the  rector  of  the  Ascension 
and  his  congregation  did  not  profess  to  favor  the  war  measures 
of  the  Government,  and  were  supposed  to  be  in  sympathy  with 
the  South,  they  were  early  considered  as  disloyalists,  and  were 
stigmatized  as'  secessionists.  No  word  was  uttered  by  him,  and 
no  single  thing  done  to  make  him  and  his  congregation  obnoxious 
to  the  Government.  His  preaching  during  the  entire  period  was 
free  from  all  political  allusions,  and  was  characterized  by  even 
more  than  his  usual  evangelic  fervency.  Some  of  the  Church 
clergy  were  wont  to  preach  what  he  termed  "  strong  Government 
sermons,''  but  for  himself  he  never  introduced  the  subject  into  his 
pulpit.  Some  who  held  office  under  Government  withdrew 
from  his  church,  not  from  dissatisfaction  with  the  rector,  but 
because  by  their  connection  with  the  Ascension  they  became 
marked  men,  and  were  in  danger  of  losing  theii-  offices.  But  theii' 
places  were  more  than  supplied  by  others,  who  in  their  admu-ation 
of  Dr.  Pixkxey's  course  of  manly  independence,  sought  to  be 
under  his  ministrations.  His  calm,  steady  adherence  to  what  he 
believed  to  be  his  high  and  holy  duty  as  a  minister  of  Christ  in 
times  when  men's  passions  are  roused  by  the  fierce  conflicts  of 
war,  secured  for  him  the  respect  even  of  Government  officials  ;  a 
noted  instance  of  which  occurred  later  on,  in  the  very  midst  of 
the  civil  contest,  when  the  great  war  secretary  Stanton,  not  a 
member  of  Dr.  Pinkney's  congregation,  sent  for  him  to  come  and 
officiate  at  the  funeral  of  his  son.  In  the  solemn  hour  of  his 
bereavement.  Secretary  Stanton  sought  the  ministrations  of  the 
rector  of  the  Ascension.  Hence  Dr.  Pinkney  was  able  to  go  on, 
undistiu'bed  and  uninterrupted,  in  all  his  ministerial  duties.  Nor 
was  he  subjected  to  any  special  annoyances  in  going  to  and  from 
his  home  in  Bladensburg,  surrounded  as  it  then  was  with  soldiers 
and  fortifications.  And  so  doubtless  it  would  have  continued  to 
be,  so  far  as  the  rector  of  the  Ascension  and  the  church  building- 
were  concerned,  but  for  unhappy  occurrences  that  followed  the 
16th  of  March,  1862. 

The  successes  of  the  Federal  arms  early  in  March  of  that  year, 
and  the  subsecpient  evacuation  of  Manassas  by  the  Confederate 
forces,  relieved  Washington  city  from  apprehension  of  siege  and 
occupancy  by  the  Confederates.  Bishop  Whittingham  was  Aviit- 
ten  to  at  the  time  by  certain  persons  and  requested  to  set  forth 
a  special  "  prayer  of  thanksgiving  for  the  late  victories,"  to  be 
used  only  in  Washington  and  the  District  of  Columbia,.  The 
Bishop  promptly  yielded  to  the  request,  and  immediately  issued 
by  rescript  such  "  prayer  of  thanksgiving  for  late  victories,"  and 
for  "  deliverance  of  Washington  city  and  District  from  the  terrors 
of  blockade  and  siege."  As  the  day  of  its  mailing  was  Saturday, 
the  Bishop   sent   to  the   clergy  notification  by   telegraj^h   of  the 


LIFE    OF    lUSIIOl-    riNKNKV.  1()7 

tiansinissioii  of   the  prayer  whicli  was   required   to  be   used  on 
the  next  day,  "  Sunday,  and  within  eight  days  after  its   receijit."" 

As  this  form  was  intended  solely  and  exclusively  for  use  within 
the  limits  of  Washington  city  and  the  District  of  Columbia,  it 
was  not  sent  to  any  of  the  other  clergy  of  the  Diocese  of  ^lary 
land.  The  time  for  any  consideration  was  sliort,  but  Dr.  Pinknky 
ui)on  examination  of  the  canon  *  became  satisfied  that  the  Bishop's 
act  in  issuing  the  pi-ayer  for  only  paiiial  and  local  use  in  the 
diocese  was  extra-canonical  and  unauthorized.  He  therefore 
declined  to  use  it,  and  did  not  use  it  in  his  church.  It  ajjpears 
also  not  to  have  been  used  in  Trinity  Church,  in  consequence  of 
the  correspondence,  relating  to  the  (]uestionaV)le  authority  of  its 
issue,  between  the  Bishop  and  the  then  rectcn-  of  the  parish,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Syle,  which  correspondence  absorbed  the  time  limited 
for  the  use  of  the  prayer.  Apart  from  the  feeling  of  rei)Ugnance 
which  Dr.  Pinkney  might  have  had,  as  to  offering  up  in  his  church 
jDublic  thanksgiving  for  the  shedding  of  fraternal  blood  on  either 
side  of  the  contest,  he  placed  his  abstaining  from  the  use  of  the 
prayer  on  the  ground  that,  under  a  strict  construction  of  the 
canon  authorizing  the  issue  of  "  prayers,  &c.,  for  extraordiiuiry 
occasions,"'  no  single  church,  or  any  several  churches  in  a  si)ecial 
locality,  in  the  one  diocese,  could  be  selected  by  the  Bishop  for 
ohlif/atory  services  to  the  exclusion  or  non-inclusion  of  the  other 
churches  of  the  diocese  :  for  the  canon  expressly  declares  that 
whenever  prayers  or  thanksgivings  for  extraordinary  occasions 
are  prepared  by  the  Bishop,  they  are  to  be  "  transmitted  to  each 
clergyman  within  his  diocese,  whose  duty  it  shall  l)e  to  use  such 
forms  in  his  church  on  such  occasions."  In  his  construction  of 
the  canon,  Dr.  Pinkney  was  confirmed  by  the  written  opinions  of 
lawyers  eminent  as  well  in  the  councils  of  the  Church  as  in  theii- 
own  profession. 

That  an  individual  clergyman,  or  some  associating  clergymen, 
may  address  their  Bishop  and  hj  their  own  request  seek  from  him 
any  special  forms,  which  under  their  peculiar  circumstances  or 
in  their  localities  may  be  desired  by  them,  may  be  not  inconsis- 
tent with  the  canon  ;  but  this  is  a  very  different  thing  from  the 
Bishop's  selecting,  of  his  own  mind  or  by  Avhatever  considerations 
influenced,  certain  churches  and  localities  for  the  issue  of  prayers 
to  be  used  solely  therein. 

Dr.  Pinkney,  in  letters  to  his  friend.  Judge  Huntington,  written 
at  the  time,  very  fully  and  frankly  states  the  course  he  felt  bound 
to  pursue  under  the  circumstances  in  which  he  was  placed,  and 
also  the  grounds  and  reasons  for  that  course.  Judge  Huntington, 
as  has  been  stated,  was  a  Union  man,  but  he  could  fairly  ai)pre- 
ciate  Dr.  Pinkney's  position,  although  he  might  not  in  all  respects 
aofree  with  him. 


*  Digest,  title  i,  canon  15,  §  13. 


108  LIFE   OF   BISHOP    PIXKNEY. 

Two  of  those  letters  are  given  as  sufficiently  explanatory  of 
Dr.  Pixkney"s  views  and  of  bis  action  in  the  matter  that  brought 
him  so  reluctantly  into  conflict  with  the  ecclesiastical  authority 
of  the  diocese : 


Di'.  Pinkney  to  Judge  Huntington. 


March  25.  18rD2. 


' '  My  Deab  Judge  :  I  hope  yoii  reached  home  safely  and  found  all  well : 
;as  glad  to  see  you  as  I  am  sorry  to  lose  for  the  time  being  your  pleasant  com- 
panionship, wiiich  other  duties  compel  me  so  frequently  to  forego.  I  always 
look  forward  to  the  time  when  your  face  is  turned  toward  your  home  in  Hart- 
ford with  pleasure,  because  I  know  of  few  jjersons  who  are  so  well  qualified 
to  enjoy  the  sweets  of  a  happy  homestead  :  and  I  trust  that  the  absent  one 
may  be  kept  fi-om  harm,  and  that  you  may  all  once  more  be  permitted  to 
meet  around  one  board,  and  weave  over  again  the  links  of  love  so  firmly 
soldered  in  days  that  are  past. 

••  Your  letter  is  just  put  into  my  hands.  l"ou  do  me  injustice  in  supposing 
that  it  was  any  want  of  confidence  in  either  your  judgment  or  impartiality 
that  kept  me  from  naming  to  you  the  Bishop's  communication.  I  did  not 
do  it  simply  because  I  did  not  wish  to  burden  you  with  a  matter  that  could 
give  you  no  pleasure,  and  might  be  iinpleasant.  My  owu  mind  was  clear. 
I  did  not  consult  Alexander.  I  felt  it  was  due  to  the  position  I  held  to 
consult  two  lawyers,  one  in  Baltimore  and  one  in  Washington,  because  it 
was  proper  that  I  should  act  calmly,  and  with  the  best  legal  aid  at  my  com- 
mand. I  made  the  point  myself,  first  to  Mr.  Stone  and  then  to  a  gentleman 
•of  the  bar  in  Baltimore :  and  both  of  them  sustained  me  in  my  construction 
of  the  law,  and  Mr.  Carlisle  sent  me  word  that  he  considered  it  impregnable. 
I  read  the  canon,  and  then  asked  myself  the  question  :  Whose  duty  is  it  to 
read  the  prayer  put  forth  by  the  Bishop  under  the  canon  ?  Clearly  the  duty 
of  each  clergyman  in  the  diocese ;  and  that  by  the  very  terms  of  the  canon. 
To  whom  is  it  to  be  transmitted  ?  As  clearly  to  each  clergyman  in  the  dinrexe. 
The  jjower  to  transmit  is  derived  fi'om  the  canon,  and  the  canon  directs  that 
it  shall  be  transmitted  to  each  clergyman  in  the  diocene.  The  Bishop  may 
compose  and  transmit,  or  not.  Biit  the  may  refers  solely  and  exchisively  to 
the  act  of  composing  and  transmitting.  Ife  is  the  Bishop's  choice  to  deter- 
mine the  occasion  as  an  extraordinary  occasion.  Exercising  the  right  of 
<;hoice,  his  discretion  ends .-  and  he  must  be  guided  by  the  canon  in  all  that 
he  does  afterwards.  If  he  transmits  it  otherwise  than  as  the  canon  directs. 
he  becomes  himself  a  violatcjr  of  the  very  law  he  would  bind  on  others.  In 
one  word  the  canon  was  framed  for  diocemn  prayers.  The  Church  is  a  7in>X, 
and  when  (me  member  suffers,  all  the  members  suffer  with  it,  and  the 
endeavor  to  segregate  is  as  antagonistic  to  every  true  idea  of  the  Church  as 
it  is  to  the  terms  of  the  canon.  The  evils  of  the  opposite  construction  an- 
too  mischievous  and  manifest  to  need  enumeration.  I  have  not  a  doubt  on 
the  subject,  and  have  acted  on  the  construction  without  hesitation.  Alex- 
ander, vithout  consultati(jn  with  me,  expresses  his  view  totidem  rerhix. 
It  was  this  view  I  submitted  to  ^Mr.  Stone.  Ac.  Had  th»'  terms  of  the  canon, 
quoad  hoc  Ijeen  complied  with,  I  still  think  the  canon  gives  no  xuch  power  an 
tlie  Jiixhop  exfrcixes  ;  but  my  opinion  and  the  grounds  of  it  occupy  too  mtich 
.space  to  be  incorporated  in  a  letter,  so  that  I  must  wait  until  T  see  you,  when  I 
will  read  it  to  you.  It  hax  aUo  been  submitted  to  counsel,  from  whom  I  havn 
not  yet  heard.  I  regret  exceedingly  the  position  I  am  compelled  to  occupy. 
I  shall  patiently  hold  my  peace,  until  I  am  forced  to  speak  oiit  :  and  then  I 
-shall  make  a  clean  breast  of  it.  and  review  the  past  and  the  present  of  tin- 
Bishop's  course.  And  I  can  assure  you  that  these  circumstances  connecte<l 
with  this  rescEipt  that  give  it,  to  say  the  least,  an  unsavory  look.     I  havi 


LIFE    OF    BISHOl'    I'INKNEY.  Id*.) 

never  disobeyed  liuv  knowiiit^ly.  and  I  hope  I  never  shall.  But  my  rij^hts  I 
will  and  must  defend  at  all  hazards.  I  have  esehewed  from  principle  every- 
thing biit  the  G()spel  in  my  nnnistrations.  I  have  labored  imperf't-etly  but 
sincerely  to  do  my  dnty  by  all.  If  I  am  to  be  sacritieed  by  the  strong  arm 
of  power,  so  be  it.  I  shall  not  swerve  an  inch  from  what  I  believe  to  be  my 
duty  :   and  to  (tOD  I  leave  the  rest. 

•'  "With  kindest  regards  to  all,  I  am,  my  dear  Judge,  notwithstanding  our 
differences  of  opinion,  as  ])rofoundly  sensible  of  all  that  consecrates  your 
character  as  a  just  man  and  a  friend.  I  shall  continue  to  love  and  trust, 
because  I  believe  vou  to  be  worthv  of  it. 

"  Yours  attectionutely,  \V.   I'INKNEY. 

"  Judge  Huntington." 

Late  on  the  Saturday  evening  followinj^-  the  Sunday  on  wliicli 
the  Bisho2)'s  prayer  of  thanksoivino-  for  hite  victories  was  to  have 
been  used,  Dr.  Pinkney  received  from  the  Provost  Marshal  a 
military  order  to  the  effect  that  the  Church  of  the  Ascension 
would  be  taken  possession  of  by  the  Government  on  the  follow- 
ing- morning.  What  necessity,  if  any  actually  existed,  for  such  a 
procedure  is  not  known.  One  grovmd  of  its  seizure  and  occupancy 
was,  strangely  enough,  assumed  to  be  apprehensions  of  public  dis- 
turbances in  the  church.  Considerable  notoriety  had  been  given 
to  the  fact  that  Dr.  Pinkney  declined  to  use,  and  did  not  use,  the 
prayer  in  his  church,  and  the  news- writers  in  Washington  had 
sent  abroad  to  the  public  press  throughout  the  North  the  most 
injurious,  wrongful,  and  inflammatory  statements  with  regard  to 
his  course.  He  was  branded  w'ith  opprobrious  epithets  and 
denounced  as  a  "  Secessionist,"  and  his  church  designated  as  the 
"  Secesh  "  church. 

To  the  Provost  Marshal's  military  order  Dr.  Pinkney  sent  a 
respectful  answer,  and  whilst  averring  that  there  were  no  grounds 
whatever  for  apprehending  any  disturbances  in  his  church,  and 
protesting  against  the  order  for  the  seizure  of  his  church,  he  said 
that  the  order,  if  not  revoked,  would  be  obeyed. 

The  military  order  was  not  revoked,  and  on  the  next  morning 
as  Sundaj'-school  teachers  and  pupils  came  to  the  doors  of  the 
church,  and  as  the  congregation  were  assembling,  they  found  the 
building  in  possession  of  the  soldiers,  with  carpenters  tearing  to 
jjieces  the  interior  of  the  building — and  so  rector  and  people  were 
shut  out  of  the  house  of  GOD. 

Dr.  Pinkney's  next  letter  to  Judge  Huntington  is  still  further 
explanatory  of  his  views  and  position,  and  refers  also  to  the  seizure 
and  occupancy  of  his  church  l)y  the  military  authority.  The  entire 
letter  is  given,  with  the  exception  of  some  references  to-his  Lenten 
services : 

"  Dr.  Pinkney  to  Judge  Huntington.. 

••  Ajrril  7,  1H(;2. 

•'  My  Deak  Judge  :  T  thank  \o\\  for  the  kind  interest  you  take  in  the  affairs 
of  the  Ascension,  and  the  frank  expression  of  your  fears  and  opinion.  I 
acted  on  mv  own  Inniest  convictions  of  di;tv,  and  while  I  have  no  overbeai'- 


110  LIFE    OF    BISHOr    FIXKNEY. 

inii  conceit  of  the  wisdom  of  the  course  I  pursued.  I  was  never  more  thor- 
ou'ghly  satisfied  th:it  I  was  ritrht.  Ou  the  interpretation  of  the  canon  and 
the  uiicanonical  act  of  the  Bishop,  notwithstanding  you  think  it  susceptible 
of  doubt,  I  have  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  I  am  sustained  not  only  by 
the  three  first  lawyers  of  Washington,  one  of  whom  is  the  strongest  of 
Union  men,  but  by  Alexander,  of  Baltimore,  and  Dr.  Coxe,  and  I  believe  the 
whole  of  the  Standing  Committee,  not,  however,  as  a  Standing  Committee, 
for  the  case  was  not  presented  to  them.  So  far,  I  stand  rectus  in  curia. 
Law  is  law,  and  when  summoned  to  obey  it  I  cannot  consent  to  its  infraction. 
But  if  the  prayer  had  been  diocesan,  I  still  think  the  power  is  wanting  to  the 
Bishop  to  put  forth  such  a  prayer  and  that  on  tiro  grounds,  both  of  which 
are  supported  by  high  legal  authority,  one  of  them  at  least  entertained  by 
Dr.  Coxe.  I  was  told  by  a  prominent  clergyman  in  Baltimore  that  the  prayer 
would  not  have  been  used  by  any  of  the  clergymen  there,  with  the  possible 
exception  of  one,  and  in  his  case' the  doubt  only  existed  because  he  had  not 
expressed  an  opinion.  The  Standing  Committee  held  a  meeting  and  unani- 
mously prepared  an  address  to  the  Bishop,  as  council  of  advice,  which  is 
courteously  but  strongly  worded,  and  which  I  believe  will  meet  the  approval 
of  the  diocese,  should  it  ever  meet  their  eye.  Your  idea  of  praying  by  proxy 
is  so  foreign  from  every  idea  I  have  of  the  duty  of  prayer  that  I  could  not 
entertain  it  for  a  moment.  There  must  be  concurrence  of  thought  and  will 
and  desire,  between  the  Bishop  and  presbyter  and  people,  before  there  can 
be  anything  like  an  honest  engagement  in  prayer.  I  have  ignored  all  political 
questions  in  my  ministrations,  and  I  cannot  consistently  depart  fi'om  my 
well-weighed  jirinciples. 

"  There  are  many  people  in  this  horrid  Civil  War  as  loyal  as  their  neigh- 
bors in  doing  nothing  against  the  Constitution  and  the  laws,  which  they 
know  to  be  against  it.  who  do  not  believe  coercion  right.  And  whenever  a 
Bishop  calls  upon  them  in  prayer  to  give  utterances  to  feelings  they  do  not 
entertain  he  impinges  upon  conscience,  and,  in  my  opinion,  is  justified 
neither  by  the  law  of  God  or  man.  In  the  very  prayer  the  Bishop  had 
fi-amed  for  the  Fast  Day  service  he  appealed  to  GOD  as  the  arbiter,  and 
prayed  Him  to  defend  the  right :  and  that  prayer  was  used  in  simple  obedi- 
ence to  his  mandate.  Can  he  make  me  ignore  his  own  prayer  and  belie  my 
own  solemn  convictions  at  the  footstool  of  grace — or  pray  under  protest? 

'•  The  day  I  omitted  the  prayer,  which  it  was  well  known  I  did  not  mean 
to  use,  my  church  was  filled  both  morning  and  night,  and  in  the  night  ser- 
vices there  were  several  officers  of  the  Government.  A  more  orderly,  atten- 
tive, and  respectful  audience  were  never  gathered  within  the  walls  of  the 
church.  The  Saturday  following  I  received,  at  2  o'clock,  a  military  order 
taking  possession  of  my  church  for  the  Sunday  following,  and  closing  it  on  the 
alleged  ground  of  disturbances  apprehended.  I  sent  an  answer  stating  that 
I  had  the  most  perfect  confidence  that  the  apprehension  was  totally  without 
foundation,  and  that  the  services  of  my  church  had  hitherto  been  conducted 
in  the  manner  pointed  out  by  the  canons  of  the  diocese,  and  that  there  had 
been  no  intimation  of  disturbances.  I  stated  further  that  if  I  had  appre- 
hended* disturbance  I  should  have  felt  authorized  to  apply  to  the  Provost 
Marshal  inx  .such  a  gtiard  an  \\o\il\(}l  protect  a  congregation  of  Christians  in 
their  religioux  duties.  If.  however.  I  received  no  revocation  of  the  military 
order  it  would  be  obeyed.  My  church  was  closed  and  a  guard  stationedj 
there  who  shut  oiit  the  congregation  from  their  own  altar.  That  is  al 
that  did  occur.  *  *  *  Several  have  given  up  their  pews  :  one  of  them 
vestryman,  who  l>y  solemn  vote  endorsed  my  correspondence  with  the  Pro-^ 
vost  Marshal,  and  consequently  my  course  in  acting  according  to  the  canoi 
law  of  the  di<icese.  I  l)elieve  that  the  pews  are  in  demand  if  given  up,  for  ' 
.speak  from  rumor  and  aljsences  on  Sunday.  I  do  not  pause  to  enquire  what 
the  result  may  be.  llight,  I  leave  the  rest  with  GOD.  If  men  want  politics ' 
in  the  pulpit  <jr  the  desk  they  cannot  have  it  from  me.     I  am  ready  to  gc 


LIFE    OF    lilSIIOl'    I'INKNEY.  Ill 

and  abide  the  time  when  the  Gospel  can  he  jji-fiiehed  and  the  chnreli  l)ecniii«' 
the  ark  of  repose  to  tlie  tried  and  weary  souls  of  men.  I  look  forward  witli 
dread  to  the  ecmveution.  The  (Mmnselling  of  the  outh  to  bi- aj))ilied  to  tin- 
clergy  voluntarily  given  by  the  Bishoj),  and  the  prayer,  have  thrown  the 
diocese  into  the  utmost  agitation.      I  hope  for  the  best. 

"And  now,  my  dt'ur  Jiidge,  I  shall  not  trouble  you  again  upon  this  vexed 
question.  I  feel  no  way  aggrieved  liy  those  who  leave  us.  Kespeeting  their 
honest  scruples,  I  can  bid  them  Godsjieed  1  and  only  i)ray  that  a  better 
.shei)herd  may  be  given  them.  Some  of  them  I  have  watched  daily  for 
weeks,  in  sickness,  in  summer's  heat  and  winter's  cold.  Love  to  all. 
'•  Yours  affectionately, 

"W.  p . 

'*  Bettie  and  her  brother  desire  their  love  to  you.     This  sunnner  you  must 

go  out  witli  nie  at  least  twice  a  week." 

So  general  in  the  Diocese  of  Maryland  had  been  the  disregard 
of  the  da3's  of  prayer  and  hnmiliatiou  fre(|uently  proelaimed  by 
President  Lincoln  during  the  War  ;  and  so  general,  too,  had 
been  the  non-use  by  the  clergy  of  prayers  issued  for  such  occa- 
sions by  the  Bisho}),  that  any  attempt,  even  if  there  were  just 
grounds  for  ecclesiastical  jn'ocednre,  to  ])rosecute  for  such  omis- 
sions could  not  liut  utterly  fail,  and  would  onl}-  have  served  to 
intensify  the  increasing  discords  and  troul>les  in  the  diocese. 
The  misfortunes  of  the  times  were  sorely  felt  for  serious  hurt 
to  the  peace  and  progress  of  the  Church.  Had  wiser  and  more 
moderate  counsels  prevailed  the  evils  would  have  been  greatly 
lessened. 

Bishop  "VVhittingham  became  aware,  through  the  i:)ublic  piints, 
of  the  fact  that  Dr.  Pinkney  had  not  used  the  prayer  of  thanks- 
gi%'ing  for  late  victories  as  required  by  the  rescript  of  the  loth  of 
March,  1862,  and  also  that  the  Church  of  the  Ascension  had  l)een 
seized  by  the  military  authorities  for  a  hospital.  It  seems  that  a 
communication  of  like  purpose  to  that  sent  to  the  Provost  Mar- 
shal was  transmitted  also  to  the  Bishop. 

No  official  action,  however,  was  taken  by  the  Bishoj)  until 
several  months  later,  when,  by  an  order  of  the  vestry,  a  commu- 
nication was  sent  to  the  Bishop  by  the  register  of  the  parish, 
containing  a  copy  of  the  jirotest  which  the  vestry  had  passed 
against  the  seizure  of  this  church  by  the  military  power,  and  also 
containing  the  following  statements  : 

"  Our  worship  has  been  conducted  in  all  respects  according  to  the  usages 
and  rubrics  of  the  Church  and  the  canons  by  her  enacted.  Igntiring  every 
other  thing,  we  have  kept  it  free  from  political  taint." 

The  Bishop  in  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  this  communica 
tion  took  exception  to  the  statement  in  regard  to  the  Church 
services  in  the  Ascension,  as  not  warranted  by  the  fact,  which  he 
had  learned,  that  Dr.  Pinkney  had  failed  to  comply  Avith  the 
Bishop's  requisition  for  the  use  on  a  certain  occasion  in  his 
church  of  the  form  of  jjrayer  which  he  had  issued.     The  Bishoi)"s 


112  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

letter  to  the  register  of  the  parish  of  the  Ascension  seemed  to 
call  for  some  answer  by  the  rector,  and  it  was  accordingly- 
answered.  Hence  followed  a  series  of  letters  * — the  Bishop 
writLiig  with  his  characteristic  force  and  in  the  strong  terms  he 
was  accustomed  to  use  when  referring  to  those  engaged  in  the 
AVar  against  the  Federal  Government,  or  to  those  sympathizing- 
with  the  South — and  Dr.  Pixkxey  stating  and  vindicating  his 
course  respectfully,  but  with  manly  vigor  and  decision. 

Finally,  on  the  16th  of  September,  1862,  the  Bishop  addressed 
a  communication  to  the  Standing  Committee  in  which  he  formally 
charged  that  he  had  reason  to  believe  that  there  were  grounds 
for  an  investigation  into  the  conduct  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  William 
PiNKNEY.  in  that  the  said  Dr.  Pinkxey  had  disobeyed  the  four- 
teenth section  of  the  first  canon  of  the  first  title  of  the  Digest  of 
the  canons  for  the  government  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
in  the  Fuited  States  of  America,  and  that  the  act  of  disobedience 
consisted  in  the  refusal  and  failure  by  Dr.  Pinkney  to  use  a  certain 
form  of  thanksgiving  which,  as  Bishop,  acting  under  the  authority 
of  the  canons  of  the  digest,  he  had  set  forth  for  use  on  a  certain 
occasion  in  the  chiu'ch  under  Dr.  Pixkxey's  rectorship. 

Along  with  this  communication  the  Bishop  sent  a  copy  of  the 
correspondence  between  himself  and  Dr.  Pinkney. 

The  Bishop  also  addressed  a  letter  to  Dr.  Pinkney  enclosing  a 
copy  of  the  communication  which  he  had  addi-essed  to  the  Standing 
Committee,  and  adding  therein  as  follows : 

" — that  should  the  Standing  Committee  fas  the  action  of  that  body  in 
certain  cases  in  the  year  1861  has  given  me  reason  to  think  it  possibly  might) 
be  swayed  by  reasons  of  expedience  or  otherwise  to  decide  that  it  is  not  proper 
to  iustitiite  a  judicial  investigation  of  your  case,  such  decision  is  not  to  be 
regarded  as  any  settlement  of  the  question  raised  by  you,  and  cannot  be  so 
accepted  by  me. 

•'  I  shall  in  that  event  hold  myself  at  liberty  to  resort  to  any  other  available 
means  of  establishing  the  official  right  which  I  conceive  to  have  been  set 
aside. 

"  Verv  respectfuUv,  vour  friend  and  brother. 

"WILLIAM  KOLLINSON  WHITTINGHAM. 

"Baltimoke,  September  16,  1862.  Bishop  of  Mdryland." 

Dr.  PiNKNEY  thereupon  addi'essed  a  communication  to  the 
Standing  Committee  submitting  his  case  to  theii-  consideration  and 
action  :  and  <it  the  same  time  expressing  in  strong  language  his 
indignant  protestation  against  the  claim  of  the  Bishop  that  in  a 
cei-tain  contingency  he,  the  Bishop,  would  not  regard  the  decision 
of  the  Standing  Committee  as  any  settlement  of  the  question,  and 

♦This  correspondence  is  too  long  to  be  here  introduced.  It  will  be  found 
in  the  Appendix.  It  is  due  to  all  who  were  concerned  in,  or  affected  by, 
these  issues  that  the  whole  correspondence  should  be  published.  All  history, 
as  it  bears  upon  acts  and  movements,  both  personal  and  official,  is  valuable 
just  in  proporti<jn  as  it  fairly  and  fully  brings  out  the  facts. 


LIFE    OF    IJISHOP    I'INKNKV.  lllj 

would  "  resort  to  any  otlier  available  means  of  establisliinj^  the 
official  right  which  he,  the  Bisliop.  conccivod  to  hiivr-  hccii  set 
aside." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Standing  C'onnnittece,  liehl  on  tlie  24tli  of 
September,  1862,  the  action  of  the  body  in  the  case  of  Dr.  Pinkney 
was  us  follows  : 

"  The  cominittec  haviuLt  ciirefuUy  omisidered  the  presentment  by  the 
Bishop  of  the  Rev.  William  Pinkney,  D.  D.,  togethei-  with  the  aecompanying 
correspondence — 

"Rcxolcfd,  unanimously,  forasmuch  as  in  their  judgment  the  grounds 
assigned  by  the  Kev.  Dr.  Pinkney  for  declining  to  comply  with  the  Bishop's 
mandate  are  in  strict  correspondence  with  section  14,  canon  xiii,  title  i,  of 
the  Digest,  the  committee  do  not  think  it  '  proper  that  a  judicial  investiga- 
tion of  the  conduct '  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pinkney  shoidd  take  place." 

Official  notice  of  their  action  in  the  case  was  duly  transmitted 
to  the  Bishop  and  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pinkney. 

The  general  Church  having  made  no  provisions  for  the  trial  of 
presbyters  and  deacons,  the  right  of  establishing  ecclesiastical 
tribunals  for  the  trial  of  offences  (enumerated  in  title  ii,  canon 
2,  ?  1  of  the  Digest)  is  devolved  by  the  sixth  article  of  the  con- 
stitution upon  the  several  dioceses. 

In  Maryland  the  canons  of  the  diocese  provide  for  the  estab- 
Hshment  of  a  standing  ecclesiastical  court,  and  set  forth  the  forms 
of  procedure  to  be  taken  in  all  cases  of  trial ;  but  before  any 
clergyman  can  be  brought  before  the  ecclesiastical  coui-t  for  trial 
there  must  first,  as  an  essential  preliminary  to  any  action,  be  laitl 
before  the  Standing  Committee  by  the  Bishop  ''  the  information 
in  his  (the  Bishop's)  possession  ''  touching  the  matters  charged, 
to  enable  the  committee  to  determine  whether  it  is  ''  2:)roper  that 
a  judicial  investigation  of  the  conduct  of  any  priest  or  deacon 
should  take  place  ; ''  or,  they  themselves  must  have  such  •'  infor- 
mation, worthy  of  notice,"  as  to  warrant  action  on  their  part  in 
the  premises. 

The  Standing  Committee  therefore  stands  as  the  grand  inc[uest 
of  the  Church  in  the  diocese,  and  must  determine  in  every  case 
whether  a  presentment  for  trial  shall  be  made.  And,  if  upon 
careful  examination  of  the  information  laid  before  them  they 
deliberately  conclude  that  there  are  no  grounds  for  judicial  pro- 
cedure in  that  particular  case,  the  person  accused  stands  ac{|uitted 
touching  the  matters  of  which  he  was  charged,  and  occupies  the 
same  status  in  the  Church  as  before  the  accusation  was  made. 
It  is,  in  a  word,  the  absolute  and  final  disposition  of  the  matter  ; 
and  there  is  no  court  of  ai)peal  or  board  of  supervisors  in  the 
Church  to  examine  into  or  overrule  this  action  ;  so  carefully  and 
wisely  does  the  Church  in  Maryland  jn-ovide  for  the  i)rotection  of 
her  clergy  in  all  matters  of  procedure  touching  ecclesiastical 
charges  and  trials. 


11-i  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKXEY. 

The  actiou,  therefore,  of  the  Standing-  Committee  in  Dr.  Pink- 
ijet's  case  was  a  complete  and  tinal  determination  respecting  the 
matter  charged :  nor  does  the  Church  know  of  any  means  by  which 
theu'  action  coukl  be  nullified  or  overridden. 

It  is  not  asserted  or  claimed  that  the  Standing  Committee  will 
"be  so  free  from  error,  mistake,  possible  prejudice,  or  undue  influ- 
ence, as  to  be  necessarily  always  right  and  just  in  theii-  conclusions 
and  action :  l)ut  it  is  affirmed  that  theu-  decisions  are  under  the 
l^rotection  of  the  law  of  the  Church  in  all  matters  committed  to 
them  and  concerning  which  they  are  held  responsible  by  the 
Church.  Of  their  official  acts  the  Church  in  the  diocese  is  to 
judge  :  but.  as  many  things  may  and  do  come  before  them  for 
determination,  it  may  not  in  all  cases  be  necessary  or  expedient 
that  the  grounds  or  reasons  of  their  action  or  non-action  should 
be  spread  liefore  the  public. 

There  have  been  times,  as  we  shall  see,  when  their  acts  have 
heen  gravely  questioned  and  serious  wrongs  supposed  or  believed 
to  have  been  inflicted.  But  it  is  no  part  of  this  biography  to  enter 
upon  that  wide,  perplexing,  and  unhappy  discussion  as  it  turned 
out  to  be.  All  that  is  here  asserted  is  that,  as  the  ecclesiastic 
authority  in  and  for  all  matters  and  cases  canonically  committed 
to  theii'  cognizance  'and  action,  the  Standing  Committee  act  under 
theu-  solemn  responsibility  to  the  Church  for  the  preservation  of 
the  truth,  the  order,  and  the  discipline  of  the  Church  so  far  as 
these  matters  come  within  their  pro^ince. 


LIFE    OF    I'.ISHOr    I'lNKXEY.  115 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Standin(;  Committee — General  Convention.     1802. 

Antecedent,  by  several  months,  to  the  proceedings  in  the  case 
of  Dr.  PiNKNEY,  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese  had  met  at  the  usual 
time  in  May  of  the  year  1S(j2.  In  18()1,  owing  to  the  great  civil 
perturbations  caused  by  the  occupancy  of  the  State  by  the  military 
forces  of  the  Federal  Government,  no  diocesan  convention  was 
held.  As  the  time  approached  for  the  convention  of  1802  grave 
fears  were  entertained  by  many  that  increased  trouble  for  the 
Chiu'ch  would  arise  from  its  meeting.  Happily  these  fears  were 
not  realized  to  the  extent  anticipated.  The  convention  met  as 
usual.  The  Bishop  of  the  diocese  presided  and  delivered  his 
address,  making  but  slight  reference  to  the  evils  of  the  times  and 
the  agitations  in  the  Chui'ch — somewhat  saddened  in  tone,  yet 
hopeful  for  the  future.  He  was,  however,  much  grieved  and 
disapj^ointed  at  two  imjjortant  acts  of  the  body — the  one  in 
clianging  to  some  extent  the  2)e)\sonnel  of  the  Standing  Committee, 
and  the  other  in  making  a  like  change  m  the  delegation  to  the 
General  Convention,  which  was  to  meet  in  New  York  in  October 
of  that  year.     The  movement  to  effect  both  ol)jects  was  successful. 

AVithout  the  concurrence  and  co-operation  of  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee no  action  looking  to  the  judicial  investigation  of  the  conduct 
of  any  clergyman  could  be  taken  by  the  Bishop.  The  majority 
of  the  convention,  in  order  to  i^rotect  themselves  against  present- 
ments for  trial  resi:)ecting  the  non-use  of  sj^ecial  prayers  and 
thanksgi\'ings  issued  by  the  Bishop  during  the  War,  elected  only 
those  clergymen  Avho  could  be  relied  upon  for  such  protection. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Wyatt,  Dr.  Pinkney,  and  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Crosdale 
and  Barber,  of  the  old  committee,  were  retained ;  and  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Nelson,  Dr.  McKenuey,  and  Rev.  IMejer  Lewis  were  added.  By 
this  action  the  Bishop  was  much  aggrieved,  and  gave  strong 
expression  to  his  feeling. 

In  the  matter  of  the  delegation  to  the  General  Convention  the 
change  consisted  in  leaving  out  of  the  old  delegation  one  of  the 
clerical  and  two  of  the  lay  deputies,  and  the  substituticm  of  others 
to  bring  it  into  accord  with  the  prevalent  feeling  of  the  diocese 
respecting  the  matters  then  agitating  the  public  mind.  Tlicre 
was  but  one  ballot :  and  there  is  no  record  in  the  journal  of  the 
votes  cast  for  the  different  persons  voted  for.  There  was  no 
hesitation  or  opposition,  however,  in  any  quarter,  to  the  nomina- 
tion and  election  of  the  venerable  Dr.  Wyatt,  who  had  been  for 


116  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

many  years  an  houoied  representative  of  the  diocese,  and  had  at 
successive  general  conventions  tilled  the  chaii-  of  president  of  the 
house  of  clerical  and  lay  deputies.  With  hke  unanimity  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Henry  M.  Mason,  of  Easton,  so  noted  for  his  learning,  his 
thorough  churchmanship,  and  his  genial  quaUties,  was  elected. 
Nor  was  it  less  so  in  the  case  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pinkney,  for  whom 
much  symjDathy  was  felt  and  warm  admiration  expressed,  touch- 
ing his  conflict  with  the  ordinary  in  the  matter  of  the  special 
prayers  set  forth  for  use  in  the  Church  on  divers  occasions  during 
the  "War.  and  in  the  recent  appropriation  by  the  Government  of 
his  parish  church  for  the  uses  of  a  mihtary  hospital.  At  the  same 
ballot  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hutton  was  elected  as  the  fourth  clerical 
deputy. 

The  lay  delegation  as  elected  was  composed  of  the  Messrs. 
E.  F.  Chambers,  I.  Mason  Campbell,  James  Carroll,  and  J.  M.  Car- 
lisle. Much  to  the  mortification  and  chagrin  of  Bishop  Whitting- 
ham.  Dr.  Hugh  Davy  Evans,  who  for  many  years  had  been 
prominent  in  the  councils  of  the  diocese  and  of  the  General 
Church  and  who  was  j^re-eminent  as  a  layman  for  his  learning  in 
all  theological  and  ecclesiastical  matters,  was  left  out.*  By  this 
action  Bishop  A\liittingham  was  intensely  grieved  and  disap- 
pointed and  did  not  hesitate  to  express,  in  his  own  strong  way, 
disj^leasure.  But  such  was  the  state  of  feeling  and  of  determina- 
tion on  the  part  of  the  great  majority  of  the  diocese  touching  the 
C[uestions  then  forcing  themselves  out  of  the  political  arena  into 
the  councils  of  the  Church,  that  the  convention  would  not  send  to 
the  General  Convention  one  who  had  already  avowed  sentiments 
and  advocated  measures  antagonistic  to  those  held  by  three-f  oiu'ths 
or  five-sixths  of  the  clergy  and  laity  of  the  diocese. 

The  four  clerical  deputies  attended  throughout  the  meetings  of 
the  General  Convention,  which  in  that  year  was  held  in  New  York, 
They  were  quiescent  and  took  no  part  in  the  proceedings  beyond 
casting  their  votes  upon  the  measui'es  that  came  before  the  body,, 
and  the  discharge  of  such  duties  as  in  committees  devolved  upon 
them.  It  is  not  remembered  that  any  one  of  the  clerical  deputies 
took  part  in  the  discussions. 

Judge  Chambers  was  the  only  lay  delegate  that  attended  from 
the  begiiming  to  the  close  of  the  sessions  of  the  body,!  and,  for 
one  usually  so  active  and  prominent  in  all  important  discussions, 
he  was  very  quiescent.  He  sought,  however,  by  his  counsels  in 
committees,  and  by  his  speeches  on  several  occasions  before  the 
house,  to  stave  oft"  legislation  and  measures  upon  matters  which 
he  thought  to  be  outside  of  the  province,  and,  under  the  political 
excitement  of  the  times,  detrimental  to  the  work  and  the  welfare 


♦See  Dr.  Brand's  Life  of  Bishop  Wliittiughiim,  vol.  ii,  pp.  30-31. 
+  Mr.  Carlisk'  was  present  at,  the  opening  of  the  convention,  but  Messrs 
Campbell  and  Carroll  did  not  attend  any  of  the  sessions  of  the  body. 


i 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    I'lNKNEY.  117 

of  the  Cliurfh.  In  these  efforts  lie  failed  ;  iiiul  it  was  jxilnips  tin' 
first  ami  most  signal  instance  in  which  that  distingtiislicd  layman, 
so  consummate  in  his  ability  to  control  the  action  of  jxihlic 
bodies,  was  known  to  fail.  Towards  the  close  of  the  convention 
he  presented  a  protest  against  the  action  of  the  house  in  regard 
to  the  Civil  War,  but  his  protest  was  not  received  l)y  the  body. 

The  results  of  that  General  Convention  are  well  known.  They 
were  not,  on  the  one  hand,  as  serviceable  to  the  country,  or  on  the 
other,  as  detrimental  to  the  Church  as  by  many  had  been  antici- 
pated. The  rulers  and  the  people  throughout  the  North,  in  the 
Middle  States,  and  in  the  Northwest,  were  so  absorbed  in  the 
prosecution  of  the  War  and  so  concerned  as  to  its  fearful  issues 
that  they  cared  little  for  the  acts  of  the  Church  so  long  as  thej' 
were  not  avowedly  or  oj^euly  hostile  to  the  Government  and  the 
War.  And  besides  there  is  really  so  much  conservatism  thor- 
oughly ingrained  into  the  whole  sj^stem  and  practical  movements 
of  the  Church  that  nothing  short  of  the  most  extreme  or  radical 
measures  would  turn  her  away  from  her  usual  steady  course,  or 
elicit  much  outside  attention.  Hence  the  pastoral  letter  which 
was  issued  by  the  House  of  Bishojis,  sustaining  the  measures  of 
the  Government  in  the  prosecution  of  the  War  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  Union,  and  most  loyal  in  its  sentiments  and  counsels, 
did  no  harm,  and  it  is  not  known  that  it  accomplished  any  special 
good. 

By  precedent  and  usage  the  preparation  of  the  pastoral  letter 
was  the  privilege  and  duty  of  the  presiding  Bishop,  the  Rt.  Rev. 
John  Henry  Hopkins,  of  Vermont.  In  the  discharge  of  this 
function  the  Bishoj)  of  Vermont  prepared  and  submitted  to  the 
House  of  Bishops  a  pastoral  letter  which,  w^iile  true  in  loyalty  to 
the  Government,  deprecated  the  introduction  of  any  State  or  civil 
matters  into  the  councils  of  the  Church.  But  by  an  action  which 
though  strange  and  unusual,  was  still  intelligible  enough  under 
the  cii'cumstances,  the  House  of  Bishops,  on  the  motion  of  the 
Bishop  of  Maryland,  set  aside  this  pastoral  letter,  and  substituted 
ior  it  a  letter  prejiared  by  Bishop  Mcllvaiu,  of  Ohio  ;  against 
which  proceeding,  however,  the  Bishop  of  Vermont  presented  a 
foi-mal  protest,  and  "  requested  that  it  might  be  entered  upon  the 
minutes."  The  protest  was  "  received,"  but  by  a  motion  of  the 
Bishop  of  Maryland  it  was  only  "  placed  on  tile  among  the  docu- 
ments of  this  House."  Bishop  Hopkins  also  indicated  his  pur- 
pose not  to  be  present  at  the  reading  of  the  i)astoral  before  the 
two  assembled  houses  of  the  convention ;  and  on  the  solemn 
occasion  of  its  reading  at  the  close  of  the  session,  the  vacant 
chair  in  the  centre  of  the  apsis  of  the  Church  marked  in  most 
emphatic  way  the  absence  and  the  disapproval  of  the  presiding 
Bishop.  "After  all,"  as  one  of  the  Bishops  subsequently 
remarked  to  Dr.  Pinkney,  "  the  Bishop  of  Vermont  is  the  l)ravest 
juan  amongst  us  all." 


118  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKXEY. 

Extracts  from  some  of  his  letters  to  bis  wife  during  the  session 
of  the  coiiventiou  will  indicate  how  great  were  Dr.  Pixkney's  fears 
and  anxieties  touching  the  jDeace  and  welfare  of  the  Church  at. 
that  great  crisis. 

On  the  Dth  of  October  he  writes  : 

' '  We  do  not  see  daylight  yet  in  our  conventional  proceedings.  To-morrow 
is  the  day  for  the  report  of  the  especial  committee  ;  and  for  one  I  do  not 
anticipate  anything  that  is  calculated  to  give  quietude  to  the  Chm-ch.  It  is 
strange  that  there  should  be  a  diversity  of  opinion  on  a  subject  where  reason 
and  Scripture  are  on  one  side.  The  Church's  mission  is  peace  and  good- 
will. The  kingdom  of  our  LORD  is  not  of  this  world.  Our  business  is  with 
the  ark  of  GOD.  Any  departure  from  her  proper  mission  is  an  element  of 
weakness  and  sure  to  be  j^rodiictive  of  ill.  Any  attempt  to  mingle  in 
the  least  degree  in  the  fierce  struggles  of  earth  is  a  diminution  of  her  moral 
power  for  good  in  her  divine  mission.  So  I  think.  Fixture  ages  are  deeply 
and  vitally  concerned  in  the  line  of  conduct  we  pursue.  There  is  a  radical 
element  in  the  body,  a  wild,  fanatical  spirit,  that  I  fear  nothing  will  satisfy 
but  the  prostitution  of  the  Church  to  the  most  ultra-partisan  future.  With 
GOD  is  the  result.  I  hope  we  may  be  safely  piloted  through  our  present  diffi- 
culties. On  Him  alone  we  can  depend.  We  can  neither  hasten  His  piirposes 
nor  friistrate  them :  and  it  would  be  well  indeed  if  we  could  only  rest  con- 
tented to  leave  the  Church  to  her  own  legitimate  business  and  allow  her  to 
work  out  those  great  ends  of  her  being  and  wait  to  see  the  salvation  of  GOD. 
So  much  for  the  convention." 

In  his  next  letter  he  writes  quite  despondingly : 

"  To-day  we  had  the  report  of  the  select  committee,  and,  so  far  as  I  can 
see,  all  hope  is  gone  for  the  present  of  the  wise  withdrawal  of  the  Church 
from  the  stormy  arena  of  political  excitement.  Some  still  entertain  a  hope 
that  the  fanatical  spirit  will  work  out  redemption  for  us  at  last.  Biit  this  is 
not  my  opinion.  If  the  preamble  and  resolutions  are  all  that  the  (conserva- 
tive spirit  of  the  North  can  secure  us,  we  have  nothing  left.  For  those 
resolutions  are  framed  in  sympathy  with  the  outside  pressure,  and,  though 
coiiched  in  the  soft,  persuasive  language  of  Mr.  Wiuthrop,  they  are  such  as 
we  cannot  accept,  at  least  if  the  impression  produced  by  the  first  reading 
should  continue  after  a  more  careful  perusal." 

Again,  still  later  in  October,  he  writes : 

"  To-morrow  the  debate  goes  on.  I  am  compelled  to  be  silent,  and  yet  I 
am  prepared  for  action  when  the  proper  time  comes.  I  do  not  regret  that 
I  came.  I  only  regret  that  our  delegation  is  not  full.  *  *  *  Speech  would 
accomplish  nothing,  and  might  do  harm.  By  to-morrow  night  we  shall  draw 
nearer  the  end.  How  strange  it  is  that  churchmen  cannot  see  that  the  power 
of  the  Church  is  to  keep  herself  aloof  from  the  political  agitations  of  the  day 
and  wait  to  see  the  purposes  of  GOD  as  they  are  developed.  We  can  neither 
retard  or  hinder.  Bvi't  I  fear  that  this  is  a  wisdom  above  and  beyond  our  times. 
I  shall  rejoice  if  these  prognostications  are  without  foundation." 

It  is  cause  for  special  thankfulness  to  GOD  that  the  American 
Church,  under  the  peculiar  trials  of  the  period,  kept  herself  as 
free  as  she  did  from  political  entanglements.  The  denominations 
around  had  thrown  themselves  with  vindictive  zeal  into  advocacy 
of  the  War,  and  had  sought  in  varied  ways  to  ally  themselves  with 


LIFE    OF   P.ISIIOl'    I'lXKNr.V.  11 'J 

the  Government  in  its  prosecution.  An  outside  pressure  was 
brought  to  bear  upon  the  Church  to  lead  to  a  like  course.  Happy 
it  was  that  so  little  was  done  by  the  Church  in  her  corporate  capac- 
ity to  compromise  her  true  position  oi  separation  from  the  State 
and  to  commit  herself  to  positive  acts,  that  upon  the  termination 
of  the  War  would  have  precluded  her  from  an  easy  and  peaceful 
reunion  with  the  Church  in  the  seceded  States.  Hence,  uptm  the 
conclusi(m  of  the  War,  by  the  trium])!!  of  the  Federal  arms  over 
the  South,  there  were  no  formidable  ditiiculties  in  the  way  of  the 
restoration  of  the  union  of  the  Church  in  tbe  opjjosing  sections 
of  the  country. 

Accordingly,  when  the  General  Convention  met  in  Philadel])liia, 
in  October,  18G5,  all  obstructions  to  a  full  and  happy  reunion  of 
the  Church,  North  and  South,  were  gradually  removed  :  and  from 
that  convention  dates  the  re-identification  of  the  Church  in  all 
parts  of  the  country  in  her  one  faith,  one  worship,  and  one  polity. 
Dr.  PixKXEY.  as  one  of  the  clerical  deputies  from  Maryland,  was 
l)resent  at  its  sessions.  It  was  a  memorable  occasion.  The  whole 
Church,  North  and  South,  was  looking-  with  intense  interest  and 
anxiety  to  the  j^roceedings  of  the  body.  Dr.  Pixkxey  took  no 
active  part  in  the  discussions  relative  to  the  admission  of  the 
Southern  dioceses  into  full  reunion. 

He  refers  to  them  in  his  letters  to  his  wife.  In  the  early  stage 
of  the  session  he  writes  : 

"  So  far  as  we  have  progressed  all  is  going  on  nobly.  We  signed  the 
lestimouials  of  Dr.  Qiiiutard,  Bishop-elect  of  Tennessee,  and  he  will  be 
consecrated  to-morrow  or  ne.xt  day.  The  House  of  Bishops  have  already 
acted,  and  most  wisely.  A  storm  is  threatened  in  ours,  but  I  still  think 
there  is  not  vigor  enough  in  the  men  to  wake  it  up.  The  house  is  conserva- 
tive, and  that  will  be  the  antidote." 

Again  he  writes : 

"We  still  have  a  quiet  time — much  discussion,  but  little  acting.  Our 
legislation  is  so  far  conservative.  A  resolution  was  oifered  to  add  to  the 
Litany  the  siiffrage  asking  the  LORD  to  send  forth  laborers  into  the  harvest. 
Judge  Chambers  opposed  it  in  a  very  impressive  speech,  and  advised  caution 
in  changes  affecting  the  book  of  Common  Prayer.  I  thought  and  felt  that 
the  warning,  good  in  ordinary  times,  was  needless  in  this  particular  :  and, 
for  the  first  time,  I  ventvired  to  express  what  I  thought.  I  reminded  the 
Judge  and  the  convention  that  it  was  no  strange  thing — that  additions  had 
been  made  by  single  Bishops  for  extraordinary  occasions — and  thiit  nothing 
could  exceed' the  beauty  of  the  introduction  of  the  Saviour's  words  of  prayer 
into  the  Litany.  I  argued  that  we  were  competent  in  this  case  to  act  for 
oui-selves.  *  *  *  It  is  terril)le  to  speak  l)efore  these  reporters,  for  they 
never  get  you  right.  I  dislike  so  much  to  take  up  the  time  of  the  convention 
that  I  can'never  do  the  subject  or  myself  the  justice  that  I  should.  I  shall 
never  overcome  the  diffidence  under  which,  in  all  my  ministry,  I  have  labored. 
But,  fortunately  for  myself  and  the  Church.  I  have  no  wish  to  particijjate  in 
debate.  I  like  this  convention  as  well  as  any  I  have  attended.  But  yet  I 
love  my  own  study  and  quiei  home  more.  All  that  gives  me  uneasiness  i& 
the  inability  to  meet  the  demands  upon  my  time  and  responsibility." 


120  LIFE   OF   BISHOP    FIXKNEY. 

Towai'ds  the  close  of  the  convention  he  writes  : 

"  The  last  rock  is  passed,  I  hope,  and  the  sea  is  calm,  and  the  good  ship 
is  on  her  way.  sails  all  set,  and  the  crew  one  in  aim  and  effort.  Mr.  B.  threw 
a  firebrand  into  onr  midst  to-day,  bi;t  the  couventiou.  North,  South,  East, 
and  West,  extinguished  it  with  a  determination  and  spirit  that  he  must  have 
felt.  How  strange  it  is  that  great  men  are  so  deficient  in  large-hearted 
charity." 

Dr.  PixKNEYS  reference  in  this  paragraph  of  his  letter  is  to  the 
resolution  introduced  into  the  House  of  Deputies  by  Mr.  Horace 
Binney,  a  distmguished  deputy  from  Pennsylvania.  The  reader 
is  referred  to  the  Life  of  JBishop  Kerfoot,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hall 
Hariison,*  for  a  very  interesting  account  of  the  circumstances 
under  which  Mr.  Binney's  resolution  was  brought  before  the 
house,  of  the  action  of  the  body  upon  it,  and  specially  of  the 
agency  of  Dr.  Kerfoot,  then  of  Connecticut,  in  securing  by  a  bold 
and  manly  speech  its  rejection  by  a  large  majority — a  most  happy 
cii'cumstance  for  the  futui'e  peace  and  reunion  of  the  Chui'ch. 


Vol.  ii.  pp.  390-'95. 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    I'INKNEY.  121 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

BiSHor  Whittingham  Declines  to  Visit    His    Chuuch — WoKSHir    in  the 
Medical  College — Return  to  His  Church — Lenten  Services.     18(»3. 

To  ADD  to  the  trials  and  embarrassments  of  the  rector  of  the 
Ascension,  and  to  those  of  his  parishioners,  a  still  further  diffi- 
culty arose  in  the  spring"  of  18(33.  Dr.  Pinkney,  ui:)on  learning 
that  the  Bishop  of  the  diocese  was  to  make  Ei)iscopal  visitation 
to  the  churches  in  Washington  cit}'  early  in  May  of  that  year, 
addressed  a  I'espectful  recpiest  to  the  Bishop  that  the  parish  of  the 
Ascension  might  be  included  in  the  visitation.  To  this  lettei-  the 
Bishop  replied,  dechning  to  make  an  a].)pointment  for  visitation 
to  the  parish  of  the  Ascension  ;  and  he  requested  Dr.  Pinkney  to 
take  his  candidates  for  confirmation  to  the  Church  of  the  Ei)i})hany 
or  to  St.  John's  Church.  The  Bishop  based  his  request  on  the 
gi'ound  of  his  "  bodily  condition "  and  "  courtesy  to  himself," 
significantly  adding  that  "  such  a  course  would  not  only  suit  his 
(the  Bishop's)  limited  convenience,"  but  would  "  also  obviate  other 
difficulties  which  might  arise  on  his  (the  Bishop's)  part." 

Under  the  circumstances  the  rector  of  the  Ascension  declined 
to  comply  with  the  request,  and  fully  anc^  frankly  stated  his  rea- 
sons. In  reply  to  this  letter  the  Bishop,  on  the  Dtli  of  May,  1863, 
expresses  his  regret  that  Dr.  Pinkney  did  not  think  it  best  to 
present  his  candidates  to  either  of  the  other  churches  that  had 
been  named,  and  then  adds  :  "  I  find  that  a  visitation  is  not  canon- 
ically  due  to  Ascension  parish  until  September  next.  Before  the 
fixed  limit  of  previous  notice  of  a  visit  at  that  period  I  shall  have 
had  timq  for  consideration  whether  the  existing  relations  of  the 
rector  and  vestry  of  Ascension  parish  with  the  Bishop  of  the 
diocese  are  such  as  to  allow  of  my  making  the  desu-ed  appoint- 
ment, with  due  regard  to  the  requirements  of  my  office." 

To  this  communication  Dr.  Pinkney  replied  at  length.  He 
deemed  it  due  to  himself  and  to  his  official  position  as  a  Presbyter 
of  the  Church  in  parochial  cure  to  vindicate  himself  from  the 
seeming  imjjutation  or  charge  that  his  canonical  ''relations,"  as 
the  rector  of  his  parish,  towards  his  diocesan,  were  any  other 
than  those  of  all  rectors  in  fair  standmg  before  the  Church,  and 
that  in  so  far  as  those  relations  were  altered  it  was  not  the  result 
of  any  uncanonical  action  on  his  part ;  that  in  fact  the  whole 
matter  touching  his  relations  with  the  Bishoj)  of  the  diocese  in 
certain  recent  occurrences  had  been  before  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee under  formal  presentment  by  the  Bishop,  and  that  the 


122  LIFE   OF   BISHOP    TINKNEY. 

Standing  Committee,  by  tbeii'  unanimous  action,  had  declared 
that  there  were  no  grounds  for  trial  or  action  in  the  matters 
complained  of,  and  that  he  stood  fully  acquitted  and  without 
offence :  and  that  where  the  principle,  touching  the  rights  of 
himself  as  rector  and  of  his  parish,  in  regard  to  Episcopal  visita- 
tion was  involved,  there  was  no  ground  or  claim  for  courtesy ;  in 
fine  that  he  "'  i^rotested,  not  agamst  the  postponement  of  the 
visitation,  but  against  the  reason  assigned  for  it." 

To  this  communication  the  Bishop  made  no  reply,  and  the 
correspondence  closed. 

These  facts  are  recorded  because  it  is  due  to  the  truth  of  history 
that  they  should  be  presented.  There  are  many  trying  expe- 
riences that  enter  into  an  earnest  life  where  that  life  is  brought 
into  contact  and  collision  with  other  lives.  However  much  it  is 
to  be  deplored,  it  will  be  found  that  men  of  sterling  worth  and  of 
great  piety  will  sometimes  differ  essentially  as  to  the  lines  of  theii- 
respective  responsibility  and  duty,  and  so  be  forced  by  their  con- 
victions into  positions  of  painful  controversy  and  into  dii'ectly 
opposing  courses  of  action.  It  is  no  part  of  a  true  and  faithful 
biography  to  ignore  or  conceal  such  facts  as  they  come  up  in  the 
lives  of  the  best  of  men. 

No  one  doubts  the  thorough  sincerity  and  earnestness  of  BishojD 
^Vhittingham  in  the  determinations  and  acts  that  marked  his 
course,  and  gave  to  his  Episcopate  such  prominence  during  the 
Civil  AVar,  and  which  also  brought  to  the  Bishop  himself  so  many 
personal  and  official  trgubles.  In  the  intensity  of  his  convictions 
of  loyalty  to  the  Government  he  deemed  obedience  to  the  call  of 
the  civil  authority  for  religious  services  to  be  a  duty,  to  be 
enforced  ujjon  the  clergy  by  ecclesiastical  penalties.  He  was 
conscientious  in  the  coui'se  he  pursued,  however  unfortunate  for 
himself  and  the  Church  were  the  results. 

Xor  can  any  one  fail  to  see  that  the  rector  of  the  Ascension, 
who  by  his  life-long  residence  and  faithful  ministry  in  the  diocese, 
had  established  for  himself  a  name  and  a  character  of  most  loyal 
devotion  to  truth  and  duty,  was,  on  his  part,  only  acting  out  his 
firm  and  honest  convictions  in  maintaining  under  the  most  trying 
circumstances  the  rights  and  privileges  of  his  priesthood  and 
pastorate  in  the  Church  of  GOD. 

The  candidates  for  confirmation  in  the  parish  of  the  Ascension 
were  afterwards  confirmed  by  one  of  the  Bishops  of  the  Church 
acting  under  the  request  of  the  Bishop  of  the  diocese,  whose 
increasing  infirmities  precluded  him  from  any  visitations  beyond 
the  city  of  Baltimore  and  its  immediate  vicinity.  And  so  all 
further  conflict  between  the  Bishop  of  the  diocese  and  the  rector 
of  the  Ascension  respecting  the  canonical  requirements  of  Epis- 
copal visitations  was  happily  avoided. 

The  seizure  and  occupancy  of  their  chm-ch  by  the  military 


LIFE    OF    msilOl'    IMNKNKV.  12:{ 

power  made  it  necessary  that  the  rector  and  vestry  of  the  Ascen- 
sion shoukl  seek  out  some  buikling  where  the  divine  services  C(jukl 
be  conducted.  Very  soon  there  came  to  their  help  one  who  then 
and  ever  afterwards  proved  himself  to  be  one  of  the  dearest  and 
most  lo\Tag-  of  Dr.  Pinkney's  friends,  and  who  also  in  subsecpient 
years  became  noted  for  his  large  and  lil)eral  Ijenefactions  to  the 
Church.  This  friend  was  Mr.  W.  W.  Corcoran.  At  tliat  time 
owning-  a  commodious  building  on  H  street,  Ijetween  Thirteenth 
and  Fourteenth  streets,  which  was  used  for  medical  lectures  in 
connection  with  the  Columbian  University,  Mr.  Corcoran  gener- 
ously proffered  its  use  to  the  rector  and  congregation  so  long  as 
they  should  need  it  for  the  church  services.  To  this  building 
the  congregation  repaii'ed,  and  continued  to  worship  there  until 
their  own  parish  church  was  restored  to  them  and  could  be  suffi- 
ciently cleansed  and  repaired  for  occujjancy. 

The  church  building  was  surrendered  by  the  Government 
towards  the  close  of  April,  1863.  A  rental  was  paid  to  the  vestry 
for  the  period  of  its  occvipancy,  and  also  a  special  sum  of  about 
§500  for  repairs  ;  neither  of  which  sums,  however,  was  half  suffi- 
cient for  its  restoration.  The  church,  when  vacated  by  the  military, 
was  left  in  a  horribly  filthy  condition ;  the  furniture  desti'oyed  ; 
the  sash  and  windows  broken  out ;  the  walls  defiled  with  obscene 
pictures  :  and  the  very  chancel  made  a  })lace  for  refuse. 

It  involved,  besides  the  allowance  made  by  the  Government, 
heavy  expenditures  for  the  repairs  :  and,  in  his  convention  report 
of  the  next  year.  Dr.  Pinkney  reported  the  sum  of  $3,000  as  raised 
for  the  church  purposes.  •  The  work  of  restoration  went  on  as  fast 
as  possible :  and  after  Easter,  of  the  year  18()3,  the  rector  and 
his  congregation  were  able  to  reoccupy  the  church  for  the  divine 
ministrations. 

Allusion  is  made  in  the  following  letters  to  the  usual  Lenten 
services  which  he  had  held  during  the  season,  and  to  the  reoecu- 
pancy  of  the  church  ;  and,  in  reading  them,  one  cannot  fail  to 
note  how^  uncomplainingly  and  cheerfully  Dr.  Pinkney  went  on  in 
his  ministerial  duties  and  in  literary  studies. 

It  had  been  his  wont  from  the  beginning  of  his  rectorship  in 
the  Ascension  to  hold,  during  the  forty  days  of  Lent,  a  daily  ser- 
vice of  morning  and  evening  prayer,  and  once  or  twice  on  each 
day  during  the  whole  season  he  would  deliver  a  lecture,  usually 
extempore.  The  morning  prayer,  held  at  noon,  could  not  be 
largely  attended  ;  but  the  evening  service,  held  at  the  hour  of 
twilight,  found  every  day  a  large  congregation  present  to  engage 
in  the  service  and  hear  the  lecture.  These  lectures  were  deeply 
interesting,  full  of  spiritual  unction,  and  most  searching  to  the 
conscience.  When  the  joyous  festival  of  Easter  was  come  and 
gone  ills  friends  could  see  from  the  pallid  countenance  and  the 
w^earied  look  how  exhaustive  had  been  the  fasts  and  lalwrs  of  the 
precedent  Lent. 


124  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PIXKNEY. 

Ami  yet  a  letter  written  to  bis  wife  after  the  Easter  of  1861, 
when  the  political  skies  were  so  clouded,  shows  the  relief  and  the 
joy  that  came  to  his  heart  from  the  sacred  services  : 

•'Washington,  18G1. 
'■  My  Dear  Betty  :  I  have  been  overwhelmed  with  duty,  and  have  dehiyed 
writiui,'  each  day  as  I  thought  I  shouki  be  able  to  go  out  in  the  afternoon. 
"We  had  a  glorious  Easter  service— flowers  most  exquisitely  grouped  and  of 
the  most  exquisite  texture  and  fragrance :  music  remarkably  line :  an  over- 
flowing congregation  :  the  largest  communion  I  ever  had.  Everything  went 
off  beautifully,  and  I  hope  the  sermons  were  not  altogether  unworthy  of  the 
occasion.  The  day  was  beautiful.  The  only  thing  wanting  to  my  enjoy- 
ment was  the  consciousness  that  no  familiar  face  from  Bladensburg  cheered 
me.  However,  this  must  be  so,  and  I  submit.  I  receive  much  kindness  from 
the  people  here,  and  much  consideration :  and  I  ought  to  be  thankful.  I 
have  had  some  very  ill  people,  and  could  not  leave,  and  may  not  be  able  to 
do  so  to-morrow.  1  will  if  I  can.  I  have  not  stopped  to  dinner  until  Mon- 
day. I  asked  Captain  Hunter  to  ride  from  the  depot  in  my  buggy  and  to  let 
you  know  whv  it  was  that  I  could  not  get  out." 

But  while  under  the  glow  of  this  Easter  jo}^  he  could  add  in 
the  same  letter,  rather  plaintively : 

"  I  sometimes  think  that  I  must  give  up  this  sort  of  life — on  my  feet  all 
day  and  at  work  the  rest  of  the  time — or  else  trudging  down  to  the  cars  and 
then  to  Bladensburg  :  so  tired  that  sometimes  I  feel  as  though  my  back  would 
give  way.  However,  it  is  for  the  best.  I  go  to  officiate  in  part  at  the  wed- 
ding to-night.  I  wish  you  could  have  seen  the  flowers.  Give  my  love  to 
Ogle  and  Amelia.  Afl'ectionatelv, 

"  W.  P." 

The  following  letters  to  Judge  Huntington  refer  to  his  Leiiten 
services,  studies,  and  the  restoration  of  his  church  by  the  mili- 
tary authorities : 

••  April  14,  ISfiS. 

"  Dear  Judge  :  I  sui^iDOse  you  are  enjoying  this  fine  weather  and  regaling 
yourself  with  the  beauty  of  Hartford,  and  preparing  yourself  for  the  rough 
w'ear  and  tear  of  Washington.  I  have  just  emerged  from  the  labors  of  Lent, 
and,  strange  to  say,  none  the  w'orse  for  the  severe  labors  of  the  season.  I 
delivered  one  lecture  on  two  days,  and  two  lectures  on  the  other  four  days  : 
congregations  uncommonly  good.  The  services  in  Passion  Week  were 
peculiarly  well  attended  and  interesting.  I  drew  my  lectures  from  the 
Gospel  Lessons  and  Psalter  for  each  day  as  they  seemed  to  be  most  appro- 
priate. It  is  remarkable  how  admirably  they  harmonized  with  the  season. 
One  difficulty  I  had  to  encounter  was  the  presence  of  a  professor  of  theology, 
who  held  out  to  the  last.  Y.  attended  several.  He  urged  me  to  lay  aside 
manuscript  sermons,  but  in  this  I  do  not  agree  with  him.  For,  it  seems  to 
me,  writing  is  essential.  On  extra  occasions,  such  as  daily  lectures  during 
Lent.  I  think  it  is  perfectly  legitimate  to  fall  back  on  extempore  talk,  taking 
care  to  give  as  careftil  preparation  as  possible  :  but  no  wise  man  will,  I 
think,  f(n-ego  the  labor  of  careful  composition.  In  laying  out  the  sixbject- 
niatter  of  the  Lent  lectures,  I  went  through  a  good  deal  of  hard  study, 
especially  of  the  exegetical  kind,  and  thus  accomplished  more  for  myself 
than  I  proliably  would  have  done  without  such  stimulus.  We  are  a  strange 
order  f)f  beings.     We  work  best  under  the  spur. 

"  I  have  been  relieving  myself  of  the  weariness  of  study  in  one  particular 
line  by  perusing  some  of  the  speeches  of  Burke,  Pitt,  Fox,  and  Erskine  ;  and 


1 
J 


LIFE    OF    BISHOl'    I'lXKXEY.  1*25 

really  it  is  a  wouderhil  study  to  trace  out  the  skill  of  the  nioile  of  foiistruetiug 
a  sjieec'li  displuyod  by  those  masters,  to  say  nothing,'  of  the  breadth  and  seope 
of  thought  that  pervade  all  they  uttered.  I  do  not  know  how  it  is  with  others, 
but  I  have  always  found  <,'reiit  sharpening  of  such  faeulties  as  we  have  in  an 
occasional  stepping  aside  from  the  beaten  path.  Eut  a  truce  to  this  personal 
disquisition.  I  always  feel,  when  writing  or  talking  to  you,  that  I  am  jiriv- 
ileged  to  write  and  talk  just  as  the  spirit  proni])ts  nie.  There  is  a  jjeaceful- 
ness  in  the  })aths  of  literature,  an  elevation  in  the  companionship  of  those 
who  have  most  excelled,  that  is  ])eculiarly  refreshing  in  times  like  these. 
There  is  a  freshness  in  investigation  of  the  truth  that  falls  like  the  early  dew 
on  the  soul.  I  was  particularly  interested  in  the  discussion  of  the  4th  verse 
of  the  24th  of  St.  Luke,  a  passage  that  I  have  often  read,  but  never  before 
fully  realized,  and  yet  I  sometimes  shudder  wheu  I  think  of  the  feeble  grasp 
of  truth  we  have. 

"  The  church  is  given  up.  The  worst  abuse  is  in  the  chaucel,  of  which  a 
bath  and  water-closet  were  made.  How  strange  it  is  that  there  should  be 
so  little  revereuce  in  the  minds  of  men.  The  railing  was  thrown  out  as 
common  lumber.  However,  I  hope  we  shall  be  in  it  soon.  Love  to  all. 
Believe  me,  dear  Judge, 

"  Your  attached  friend, 

"  W.  PINKNEY." 

To  the  same  : 

"April.  24,  18fi3. 

"  My  Dear  Judge:  Feeling  like  holding  a  sort  of  familiar  talk  with  you, 
I  will  not  pause  to  inquire  whether  the  forms  of  good  breeding  conqiel  me 
to  wait  until  my  last  is  answered,  or  indulge  myself  in  the  fashionable  habit 
of  complaining  that  it  has  not  been,  but  sit  down  in  my  chair  and  begin 
without  regard  to  the  method  of  my  talk :  trusting  that  you  will  give  it 
shape  wheu  you  come  to  supply  your  part  of  it.  Well,  to  begin.  The 
church  is  restored  at  last  and  five  hundred  and  seventy  dollars  awarded  for 
repairs.  Mr.  Brown  says  it  is  about  one-half  of  what  it  will  cost  to  place  the 
church  as  it  was  when  it  was  taken.  The  Epiphany  had  no  basement  and  they 
received  .f  500.  However,  we  are  compelled  to  take  this  or  nothing.  We 
shall  cleanse  the  church  and  then  go  into  it,  leaving  repairs  for  the  future. 

"  To  pass  from  this  to  a  more  agreeable  topic.  I  have  just  arisen  from  the 
perusal  of  the  last  nuiuber  of  the  licvieir  which  I  supposed  had  died  of 
plethora  long  time  ago.  You  know  that  as  a  Uevieir  I  was  of  opinion  that 
it  had  of  late  years  signally  failed.  Occasionally  there  was  a  bright  spray — 
a  very  racy  and  well-executed  article.  But  a  view  of  some  able  and 
ingenious  book,  good  or  bad,  there  was  none.  I  think  the  reviem'tuj  char- 
acter of  the  work  the  most  valualde  feature  in  the  enterprise.  *  *  *  j 
have  read  Dr.  Mahan's  reply  to  the  heretical  bislioj)  (Colenso),  and  it  does 
not  exactly  jjlease  me.  It  is  written  with  vigor,  andexhil)its  much  skill  both 
in  the  use  of  argument  and  of  satire.  But  still  it  does  not  meet  my  expecta- 
tions. I  think  it  is  wiinting  in  the  gravity  and  solemnity  that  the  subject 
demands.  I  do  not  at  times  altogether  like  the  line  of  the  argument.  I 
think  that  some  inlidels  would  not  be  impressed  by  it,  and  that  some,  who 
would  fain  find  excuse  for  their  sins,  would  be,  in  all  probability,  not 
stayed  in  their  downward  course  by  some  things  that  are  said  in  it.  It 
smacks  a  little  too  much  of  the  German  for  my  ta;;te.  But  observe,  this  is 
only  in  reference  to  a  part,  and  of  that  I  would  speak  modestly.  For  Dr. 
Maiiau  is  a  ripe  scholar,  a  profound  thinker,  a  bold,  original,  and  elocpieut 
writer.  I  much  question  whether  such  books  are  worth  answering  at  all. 
They  had  better  be  left  to  their  own  speedy  decomponitioii.     *     *     * 

"  i  got  through  Lent  very  well — lectured  twice  a  day  on  four  days,  and  once 
a  day  the  balance.  I  am  occupied  now  with  two  lectures  a  week  on  con- 
firmation. So  it  goes.  I  have  written  two  sermons  this  week,  and  delivered 
one  lecture  and  prepared  to  deliver  another,  but  am  weather-bound — the 


126  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

waters*  bein^  too  liiLrli  to  admit  of  travel.  Mrs.  P.  says  she  has  had  a 
delightful  time  with  me  to-day  ;  not  being  alile  to  satisfy  me  that  it  was  a 
providential  interposition,  whereby  I  was  made  the  gainer  of  her  fascinating 
company,  and  to  be  therefore  hailed  with  something  of  transi^ort,  and  that 
her  peace  began  when  I  began  this  to  you.  To  tell  yf)u  the  truth,  the  idea 
of  being  behind  an  appointment  is  really  a  sort  of  torture  to  me.  I  could 
walk  if  I  could  cross  the  water  ;  but  that  is  impossible.  Dear  Judge,  I  must 
now  bid  you  good-bye.  When  will  you  show  us  the  light  of  your  face  ? 
Love  to  ail.     Have  tlie  absent  ones  returned  y 

''  Yours  affectionatelv, 
"  The  Hon.  S.  H.  Huntington.  "        W.  PINKNEY." 

Thus  hopefully  and  uncomplainingly  tlid  the  rector  of  the 
Ascension  bear  up  and  work  on,  under  the  trials  of  his  position 
durmg-  the  prosecution  of  the  Civil  War.  While  he  abstained  in 
public  from  all  reference  to,  and  discussion  of,  the  warlike  move- 
ments and  agitations  that  Avere  going  on  all  around  him  in  the 
city  of  Washuigton,  he  felt  very  deeply  the  evils  of  the  times, 
esjiecially  as  they  bore  upon  the  work  of  his  ministry.  He 
exjiressed  his  thoughts  and  feelings  very  freely  to  his  friend, 
Judge  Huntington  :  and  in  July,  1864,  deprecating  the  act  of  the 
Cxovernmeut  in  drafting  clergymen  for  the  War,  he  thus  wrote  : 

'•  With  you  I  feel  that  the  judgment  of  GOD  is  now  producing  its  proper 
frviit ;  and  that  darkens  the  cloud  to  my  view.  I  see  unmistakable  signs 
of  a  hardening  process,  not  only  in  the  careless  and  worldly-minded,  but 
in  the  pr(jfessed  children  of  the  kingdom  :  and  that  makes  me  tremble  for 
the  future.  And  one  sign  of  the  degeneracy  of  the  age,  which  has  jjassed 
without  comment,  so  far  as  I  know,  in  any  quarter,  is  to  me  alarmingly  por- 
tentous.    I  mean  the  drafting  of  the  clergy  for  war. 

"  David  was  not  permitted  to  put  his  hand  to  the  Temple  because  he  was 
'  a  man  of  war,'  and  here  in  a  Christian  land  the  ministers  of  Christ's 
Gospel  are  embraced  in  the  drafting  system  of  the  Government,  and  liable 
to  be  called  from  their  only  legitimate  work  to  a  work  oi  blood.  What 
must  GOD  think  of  this  endeavor  to  secularize  His  clergy,  and  how  must  it 
react  fen-  evil  on  the  misguided  policy  ?  I  deny  the  right.  Our  calling  is 
spiritual,  unearthly,  and  no  act  of  Government  can  secularize  it.  In  mj' 
own  State  we  are  pronounced  incapable  of  holding  office,  and,  I  think,  wisely. 
'  Let  the  dead  bury  their  dead.'  Upon  what  principle  then  can  we  be  made 
to  mingle  in  the  wars  of  earth  '/  I  only  wonder  that  a  Christian  laity  can 
can  stand  by  and  see  this  wanton  degradation  of  the  ministry  and  not  utter 
their  protest  in  thunder  tones.  I  judge  not  others  :  biit  no  power  on  earth 
<-ould  make  me  do  what  I  conscientiously  believe  is  inconsistent  with  my 
calling.  I  do  not  know  that  you  agree  with  me.  I  write  freely  because  I 
write  to  you  in  the  saeredness  of  Christian  friendship  and  seek  no  disguises. 

"  I  am  delighted  to  think  that  you  are  in  the  Ciuiet  enjoyment  of  home, 
and  trust  it  will  conduce  to  your  health  as  well  as  happiness.  As  for  myself, 
my  life  is  a  constant  whirl.  Duty  rising  higher  than  performance  every  day 
and  wants  ever  demanding,  biit  never  receiving  siipply.  I  see  but  little  of 
home,  iuid  that  little  is  sadly  occupied  with  professional  duty  in  the  study. 
But  I  must  be  content.  I  have  had  two  very  interesting  cases  of  sickness, 
which  have  occupied  liours  of  the  day.  Sunday  week,  after  preaching  twice 
and  attending  a  funeral,  I  undertookto  sit  up  "at  night,  and  was  taken  very 
sick  about  four  o'clock,  having'  ten  or  twelve  attacks  between  that  and 
twelve.     I  have  been  feeling  badly  ever  since  ;  but  I  am  better  to-day." 

*  The  Nortliwest  Uranch  empties  into  the  Eastern  Branch  of  the  Potomac 
just  at  Bladensburg,  and  the  waters  are  sometimes  too  high  for  crossing, 
^ven  over  the  bridges. 


LIFE    OF    ]USH01>    I'INKNKV.  1 'J' 


CHAPTEE    XYII. 

His  Poetry.  iHOi  'OG. 

From  earlj'  life  Dr.  Pinkney  evinced  a  peculiar  talent  and  a 
sjiecial  fondness  for  poetic  composition.  His  vivid  and  ])ictur- 
es(pie  imagination  led  liim  irresistibly  to  seek  expression  for  liis 
thoughts  and  feelings  in  the  forms  of  verse.  "NVliile  he  laid  no 
claim  to  the  higher  order  of  poetic  power  and  inspiration,  he  yet 
possessed  in  his  soul  such  fulness  of  thought  and  wealth  of 
imagery  that  he  was  able  with  ease  and  great  Hueney  to  embody 
in  the  forms  of  verse  the  spirit  and  the  language  of  true  jioetry. 
His  versification  is  so  simple  in  diction,  clear  in  thought,  and 
smooth  in  rhythm  that  no  labored  effort  is  requisite  to  understand 
him.  Simplicity  and  melody  were  the  characteristics  of  all  his 
poetical  compositions,  which  were  for  the  most  part  upon  subjects 
and  on  occasions  that  did  not  call  for  any  elaborate  or  higlily- 
wrought  expression  of  poetic  power  and  gifts.  They  were  written 
chiefly  for  his  own  recreation  :  and  whenever  he  gave  them  to  the 
press  for  publication  it  was  with  the  hoj^e  that  they  would  serve 
to  enkindle  in  the  minds  of  others  the  same  glowing  thoughts  and 
feelings  that  tilled  his  own  soul.  He  wrote  from  time  to  time  a 
considerable  number  of  fugitive  pieces,  many  of  which  he  did  not 
preserve  and  of  which  he  made  no  record,  and  some  of  them  were 
strikingly  beautiful  in  their  simplicity  and  pathos.  Sometimes  in 
writing  to  a  friend  he  would  append  to  his  letter  a  few  impromptu 
verses ;  and  he  has  been  known,  when  on  a  visitation,  to  go  quietly 
to  the  rector's  desk  and  throw  off  some  appropriate  verses,  full  of 
tender  thought.  Besides  the  two  small  volumes  of  poems  which 
he  issued  from  the  press,  he  wrote  very  carefully  some  Ijrief  poems 
which  he  caused  to  be  beautifully  printed  on  sheets.  These  he 
sent  to  some  particular  friends,  from  whom  he  was  always  glad 
to  receive  expression  of  approval  or  any  criticism  they  w-ere  minded 
to  offer  as  touching  either  the  versiflcation  or  the  sentiment.  In 
order  to  preserve  them  they  are  incorporated  in  this  work,  and, 
it  is  thought,  will  be  found  very  beautifully  illustrative  of  the 
sweetness  and  purity  of  his  sentiments  and  style. 

There  Avere  not  infrequent  interchanges  of  poetic  compositions 
between  his  mother  and  himself.  The  early  death  of  a  favorite 
child  of  one  of  his  parishioners  in  Prince  George's  county,  of 
whom,  as  has  been  previously  stated,  he  published  a  brief  memoir, 


128  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

"A  Flower  of  Faith,"  elicited  from  his  mother  some  touching 
verses,  which  were  shown  to  the  parents  and  afterwards  published 
with  an  obituary  by  Dr.  Pixkney.  In  response  he  writes  to  his 
mother : 

'•  I  thank  you  for  the  beautiful  lines  you  sent  me  as  well  as  for  the  feeling 
that  dictated  them.  They  were  admired  by  the  afflicted  friends  of  the  dear 
departed  child.  I  will  copy  off  a  few  verses  written  on  the  receipt  of  the 
daguerrotype  sent  me  l)y  the  parents  of  my  dear  little  girl.  They  were,  like 
all  my  other  pieces,  hurriedly  written.  You  can  show  them  to  my  cousin  E., 
not  for  what  they  are,  but  for  what  they  describe.  I  merely  send  them  to 
amuse  you  for  the  passing  moment,  i  cannot  write  poetry,  and  yet  the 
fever  of  rhyming  is  not  so  easily  broken  as  some  would  imagine.  The  meas- 
ure is  «Mtr/e/if?"is." 

Written  in  18.50. 

0  I  beauteous  skill  (jf  human  art 
I  price  thee  well : 

Thou  art  a  cordial  to  the  heart 
And  mystic  sj^ell  : 

1  gaze  upon  those  features  fair 
By  sunbeam  painted  there. 

The  eye,  the  lip,  the  soft  brown  hair 

Are  all  thine  own, 
The  sw'eet  angelic  look  is  thine, 

^Vhich  brightly  shone 
When  loving  accents  breathed  to  thee 
The  heart's  true  melody 

I  look  and  fancy  I  can  see 

That  deep  blue  eye 
Still  fix  its  loving  gaze  on  me 

In  sympathy, 
Until,  the  strange  delusion  gone, 
I  find  myself  alone. 

Sweet  image  of  my  Emma,  dear, 

I  prize  thee  well ; 
For  though  I  gaze  with  falling  tear, 

No  tongue  can  tell 
Thy  soothing,  soft,  consoling  power 
In  this  affliction's  hour. 

I  thank  the  love  that  thought  of  me, 

My  darling  child  : 
And  by  an  image  true  of  thee, 

My  lieart  beguiled 
Of  those  lone  hours  of  deep  distress 
In  this  bleak  wilderness. 

And  O  :   I  trust  that  GOD  will  heal 

Our  own  deep  grief. 
And  condescend  His  love  to  seal 

Which  brings  relief ; 
That  we  may  meet  upon  that  shore 
Where  tear-drops  fall  no  more. 


LIFE    OF    IJISIIOI'    I'INKNEV.  \-J,\i 

His  liist  published  volume  of  poems.  "  Soii^s  for  the  Seasons," 
waswiittou  and  issued  during-  tlie  troubles  of  the  ^Teat  ('ivil  Wur. 
Amidst  the  exeitements  and  the  })eiils  of  the  period  and  during'- 
his  ^oinj^s  to  and  from  his  home  in  Bladensbur^;-,  then  sui-rounded 
Ijy  sentinels  and  ])iekets  and  overlooked  by  frowning-  foititieations, 
his  mind  turned  to  the  poetic  strains  of  devotion  as  they  centred 
around  the  hallowed  days  and  seasons  of  the  Church-j'ear. 
When  not  engaged  in  preparing-  sermons  and  lectures  or  occu- 
pied with  pastoral  work  he  embodied  his  thoughts  in  the  little 
volume  of  "  Songs  for  the  Seasons,"  which  he  published  in  1864. 
His  modesty  restrained  him  from  issuing  a  large  editif)n  of  the 
work.  Its  circulation  was  intended  to  be  confined  mostly  to  the 
members  of  his  congregation,  to  whom  it  was  dedicated,  and  to 
some  particulai-  friends  to  wlionj  he  sent  copies.  Hence  it  never 
had  any  large  circulation,  was  never  brought  prominently  l)ef(jre 
the  Church  at  large  and  the  public,  and  so  never  attracted  much 
attention,  and  yet  he  felt  that  his  Avork  was  supplying  a  very  mani- 
fest need  in  the  poetic  teachings  for  the  Church  seasons. 

In  his  preface  to  the  work  he  says : 

•'  lu  committing  this  little  book  to  tlie  press.  I  feel  that  I  am  only  exer- 
cising the  in-ivilege  of  a  long-tried  and  cherished  friendshij) :  for  it  is  designed 
for  my  own  spiritual  charge,  and  a  few  who  are  not  of  this  fold,  endeared 
to  me  by  ties  that  can  never  be  broken  and  enshrined  in  memoi-ies  tliat  are 
too  sweet  to  be  f(jrgotten.  I  have  revelled  in  the  beanties  of  the  "  Chris- 
tian Year,"  and,  in  common  with  yourselves,  I  have  pondered  with  delight 
the  sweet  and  soothing  strains  of  Heber,  who  has  illustrated  the  same  rich 
Held  of  thought  with  the  genius  of  a  true  poet. 

"  It  occurred  to  nie  that  it  was  desirable  to  bring  out  more  fully  the  dis- 
tinctive teachings  of  the  Church  in  her  Holy  Seasons ;  and  I  have  made  the 
attempt.  *  *  *  It  is  needless  to  say  that  I  lay  no  claim  to  originality, 
for  that  would  be  simply  absurd.  The  Chiirch  herself  is  not  original.  It 
is  her  Ijoast  and  gh^ry  that  she  treads  in  the  footprints  of  the  elder  age. 
All  that  any  writer,  in  either  prose  or  poetry,  can  accomplish,  or  Ije  ration- 
ally expected  to  accomplish,  is  fidelity.  There  is  a  rich  continuity  in  the 
Church's  teaching  which  is  truly  wonderful ;  and  those  only  can  comprehend 
the  excpiisite  beauty  of  the  system  who  are  careful  to  keep  this  continuity 
befo;-e  them.  One  Siinday  leans  upon  another,  and  derives  support  and 
adornment  from  the  happy  dependence :  while  altogether  they  present  that 
niagnihcent  and  gorgeous  concatenation  of  truths  which,  originating  from 
the  cross,  tind  therein  their  grandest  culmination.  I  have,  therefore,  woven 
the  Lesson,  Epistle,  and  Gospel  into  the  verse,  and  made  them  the  chief 
fiiuntains  of  illustration." 

A\liile  preparing  the  work  he  writes  to  his  friend.  Judge  Hunt- 
ington, as  follows  : 

"  I  have  not  yet  my  full  consent  to  the  plan,  which  I  think  is  l'fasi1)le, 
and  which,  without  any  cajjtious  cavilling,  I  feel  deeply  persuaded  Kel)le's 
Year  has  left  to  Ije  devoutly  desired.  The  more  I  examine  him  the  more 
am  I  persuaded  that  on  many  of  the  days  he  does  not  bring  out  fully  and 
distinctly  the  Church's  teaching.  Had  it  not  been  for  the  opinion  of  two 
or  three  laymen  whose  taste  and  judgment  I  rely  ujion,  and  two  of  our 
Maryland  clergy  of  decided  ability  and  taste,  one  of  whom  the  Bishop  de- 


130  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   PINKNEY. 

clared  to  be  equal  to  anything.  I  should  have  left  the  pieces  on  my  table 
where  many  other  things  lie.  Dr.  Huntington's*  opinion  is  worth  thinking 
about  and  so  is  Dr.  Co.xe's.t  I  have  no  doubt  that  his  criticism  of  the 
language  is  well  foimded.  and  when  I  hear  the  particulars  I  shall  be  better 
able  to  judge.  But  how  to  remedy  the  evil  will  be  a  question  not  easily 
solved.  No  man  has  a  richer  vocalnilary  than  Dr.  H.  :  biit  it  would  be  like 
Saul's  armour  on  David.  Occasionally  I  had  to  select  a  word  for  the  rhyme 
not  because  I  preferred  it ;  and  then  again  I  selected  a  word  with  a  view  to 
popular  effect.  I  think  Keble  erred  on  this  point,  or  rather  that  he  rendered 
his  volume  more  fit  for  such  men  as  Dr.  Huntington  than  for  the  mass  of 
readers.  I  am  curious  to  see  the  strictures  and  to  profit  by  them,  if  they 
should  prove  as  reasonable  as  the  one  you  made.  Of  course  I  shall  tell  you 
frankly  what  I  think  of  the  criticisms.  I  sometimes  regret  that  I  have 
\nit  you  to  this  trouble,  because  after  all  I  may  be  contented  with  the  mere 
personal  amusement  the  work  has  afforded  me.  Since  I  ^Tote  to  you  I 
have  received  letters  from  both  of  the  clergymen  which  urge  strongly  the 
publication  without  delay.  *  *  *  j  can  see  many  things  which  I  would 
wish  altered — if  mj-  power  of  execution  were  equal  to  my  conception  of  what 
is  needed.  Indeed  that  is  the  case  with  everything  that  I  write,  and  I  sup- 
pose will  be  until  I  cease  to  write  altogether." 

Upon  the  publication  of  tlie  volume,  Dr.  Pinkney  received  very 
gratifying  letters  from  friends  to  whom  he  had  sent  copies.  The 
following  extract  is  from  a  letter  received  from  his  special  friend, 
Chancellor  S.  Corning  Judd,  LL.  D.,  of  Chicago : 

' '  I  cannot  tell  you  how  highly  I  appreciate  and  how  much  I  thank  you 
for  not  only  the  kindly  feeling  evinced  towards  me,  but  also  for  the  token 
itself.  Its  words  of  erudition,  its  boldness  in  the  truth,  the  sweetness  of 
its  song,  its  true  poetic  ring,  its  Christian  fervor,  its  soul-inspiring  verse, 
its  melting  pleadings  for  Christ,  cannot  fail  to  reach  the  iinderstanding  and 
the  heart,  and  to  elevate  the  very  soul.  You  must  not  consider  me  as  over- 
drawing the  picture  when  I  say  that  in  my  opinion  the  work  places  its 
author  in  front  ranks  among  the  WTiters  of  sacred  song." 

Among  the  letters  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  a  copy  of  the 
^'  Songs  for  the  Seasons,"  there  was,  probably,  not  one  more 
pleasing  to  Dr.  Pinkney  than  that  which  came  from  the  Rev.  Dr. 
W.  B.  Sprague,  a  distinguished  clergyman  of  the  Presbyterian 
Chiu'ch  in  Albany,  N.  Y.  The  circumstances  that  first  led  to  an 
epistolary  correspondence  between  them,  kept  up  with  occasional 
intervals  for  many  years  and  even  to  the  close  of  Dr.  Sprague"s 
life,  were  somewhat  remarkable.  They  became  subsequently  per- 
sonally acquainted  and  the  acquaintance  ripened  into  a  warm  and 
lasting  friendship.  It  seems  that  in  1851,  while  Dr.  Pinkney  was 
rector  of  his  parishes  in  Prmce  George's  county,  Dr.  Sprague 
had  heard  of  a  pviblished  "  ThanksgiA'ing  Sermon  "  entitled  "  The 
Nation's  Truest  Shield,"  which  Dr.  Pinkney  had  preached  in 
Bladensburg  in  November  of  the  preceding  year.  Desuing  to 
secui'e  a  copy  and  without  knowing  who  Dr.  Pixkney  was,  or 


*  Afterwards  Bishop  of  Central  New  York, 
t  Afterwards  Bishop  of  Western  New  York. 


LIFE    OF    I'.ISHOl'    I'INKNEY.  131 

what  Lis  cliurch  coiiiiection,  lie  addrcssod  to  him  a  Icttt-r  rcujuest- 
iiig  a  copy  of  the  senuoii.     The  following  is  the  letter  : 

"  Ai.UANY,  Maif  i:j.  18.")!. 
"  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir:  Thoutfli  I  liavi'  not  tbt-  lntiior  of  Ix-iiij^r  pcrsuimlly 
ac'(i\iaint<'(l  with  you,  I  hopi'  you  will  ])ar(lou  the  lihcrty  I  take  in  asking; 
you  to  send  nie  a  t-opy  of  your  late  sermon  cntitli'd  "  The  Nation's  TriU'st 
Shield."  The  favorable  aecouuts  that  have  reaehed  luc  coneerniiij^  it  make 
me  very  desirous  of  obtaining  it  :  and  I  can  think  of  no  way  by  whii'h  I 
can  aceomidish  my  object  (for  I  do  not  know  even  where  it  was  jjrintcd) 
but  by  making  direct  ai)plication  to  the  author.  I  need  not  say  that  I  should 
be  glad  to  reciprocate  the  favor  hy  any  means  in  my  power. 
"  I  am,  my  dear  sir,  faithfully  vours, 

'•  W.  ]}.  SPKAGUE. 
"  Rev.  Wm.  Pinkxey." 

The  published  sermon  was  promptly  sent  with  a  courteous 
letter,  which  elicited  from  Dr.  Sprague  this  jileasant  response : 

"  Albany.  May  2!).  IHTA. 
"  My  Dear  Sir  :  I  thank  you  most  sincerely  for  your  kind  letter  and  for 
your  admirable  sermon.  I  know  not  what  relation  you  sustain  to  your  name- 
sake, the  late  Attorney-General  of  the  United  States,  but  if  you  are  his  sou, 
your  sermon  wovild  indicate  that  his  mantle  had  fallen  upon  you.  I  have 
rarely  seen  a  specimen  of  such  glowing  and  effective  eloquence  as  it  con- 
tains.    *     *     * 

"  If  you  ever  come  North  I  need  not  say  how  glad  I  sh(mld  be  to  welcome 
you  to  my  domicile  and  my  pulpit. 
"  Very  truly,  vour  obliged, 

"  W.  B.  SPRAGUE. 

"  Rev.   W.   PiNKNEY." 

It  was  not  until  August  in  the  next  year  that  Dr.  Sjirague 
found  that  Dr.  Pinkney  was  an  Episcopal  clergyman.  In  acknowl- 
edging the  receipt  of  the  little  volume  a  "  Flower  of  Faith,"'  a  brief 
memoir  of  Emma  O.  Holtzman,  which  Dr.  Pinkney  sent  to  him, 
he  writes  very  handsomely  as  follows  : 

"  Will  you  forgive  me  for  not  knowing,  until  I  received  the  lieautiful  little 
memoir  you  have  just  sent  me,  that  you  are  not  a  Presbyterian  ?  I  know  not 
liow  I  fell  into  this  mistake  ;  but  I  had  never  even  had  a  doubt  on  the  subject. 
It  is  no  matter  ;  your  Episcopacy  does  not  lessen  my  interest  either  in  you  or 
your  productions." 

Dr.  Sprague  was,  at  this  period,  1852,  engaged  in  jireparing  for 
publication  a  series  of  volumes  containing  biograjihical  and  com- 
memorative notices  "  of  all  the  prominent  deceased  clergymen  of 
every  communion  in  this  country.''  He  requested  Dr.  Pinknkv  to 
prepare,  for  insertion  in  the  work,  the  memoir  of  some  recently 
deceased  prominent  clergyman  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  This 
gave  Dr.  Pinkney  the  opportunity  of  paying  a  very  just  and 
beautiful  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  George 
McElhiney,  of  St.  Anne's  Church,  Annapolis,  to  Avhose  emuient 
character  and  services  in  the  Church  reference  has  already  been 
made. 


13'2  LIFE    OF    lUSHOr    riNKNEY. 

From  bis  coiTespondence  with  Dr.  Sprague,  Dr.  Pinkxey  formed 
so  high  an  estimate  of  his  literary  culture  that,  when  about  to 
issue  the  "  Songs  for  the  Seasons,"  in  1864,  he  sent  to  him  some 
of  the  M'S.  sheets  for  examination  and  criticism  ;  to  which  Dr. 
Sj^rague  felt  forced  to  reply : 

"  I  am  not  a  poet,  and  if  I  were  to  attempt  anythiu},'  like  criticism  upou 
auy  i)oetical  ])r()duction  I  .should  know  beforoliaud  that  it  would  be  worth 
nothing.  And  now  having  made  this  frank  avowal,  I  have  no  hesitation  in 
saying  that  the  two  jneces  you  have  sent  me  seem  to  me  uncommonly  beau- 
tiful. *  *  *  If  I  had  read  these  pieces  without  knowing  who  was  the 
author,  I  am  siire  that  I  should  have  pronounced  theui  the  productions  of  a 
superior  poetical  genius.  I  shall  look  for  the  volume  with  great  interest. 
*  *  *  I  do  not  expect  to  like  it  any  the  less  on  account  of  its  being  dis- 
tinctly Episcopal :  for  I  have  long  since  so  far  schooled  down  my  sectarian 
prejiulices,  if  I  ever  had  auy,  that  I  can  enjoy  the  services  or  the  literature 
of  any  evangelical  communion." 

And  again,  upon  the  receipt  of  the  volume,  be  writes : 

' '  I  congratulate  you  that  yoii  were  made — which  I  was  not — a  poet :  and  as 
long  as  you  are  able  to  write  such  books  as  this,  I  am  sure  the  world  will 
thank  you  for  keeping  at  it." 

Strong  and  decided  us  were  Dr.  Pinkney's  Church  principles 
and  convictions,  they  in  no  way  interfered  with  most  pleasant 
association  with  the  members  and  the  ministers  of  other  religious 
communions.  His  own  convictions  were  well  know^n  and  respected, 
his  character  so  transparent,  his  deportment  so  courteous,  and 
his  geniality  so  attractive,  that  all  to  whom  he  was  known  could 
appreciate  and  love  him.  Some  of  bis  warmest  friends  and 
udmu-ers  were  found  outside  of  the  fold  of  his  own  Church. 

Dr.  PixKNEY  took  special  pleasure  in  recurring  to  his  intercourse 
with  Dr.  Sprague,  from  whom,  after  he  had  been  for  more  than 
fifty  years  a  minister  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  the  editor 
of  many  imjoortant  publications,  and  was  retii'ed,  he  received  in 
Jul}-^,  1870,  a  letter,  saying : 

"  Here  I  have  been  with  my  family  in  this  beautiful  town  of  Flushing  for 
neai'ly  two  months ;  and  here  I  expect  to  be  during  the  residue  of  my  life. 
Our  place,  including  its  surroundings,  is  almost  imparalleled  in  beauty  ;  and 
the  people,  as  far  as  we  have  seen  them,  seem  very  kind  and  friendly,  and 
many  of  them  highly  intelligent." 

He  then  adds  the  congratulatory  words : 

'•  Allow  me  to  say  that  I  was  not  a  little  gratified  to  hear  of  your  elevation 
to  the  Episcopate ;  partly  because  I  am  interested  in  whatever  has  a  bearing 
upon  your  comf(jrt  and  usefulness,  and  partly  because  I  cannot  doubt  that 
the  appointment  is  favorable  to  the  l)est  interests  of  our  common  Christian- 
ity. May  you  long  be  sjiared  to  discharge  the  duties  and  wear  the  honors 
of  the  office  1  " 

As  further  illustrative  of  his  diffidence  and  hesitancy  about 
publishing  any  of  his  jjoems,  the  following  extracts  from  a  letter 


LIFE    OF    r.lSllol'    nNKNKV.  i:{3 

of  his  to  his  friend.  Dr.  J.  H.  Alexander,  are  here  jnriven.  The 
letter  is  dated  Octol)er  17,  iSfU.  The  reference  is  to  '•  Tin-  Sonj^K 
for  the  Seasons  :  " 

■•  I  am  about  (loiu.4  a  very  questionable  tliiiii^,  iiiul  if  it  was  not  fur  tin* 
many  i-arcs  you  have,  and  the  calls  upon  yonr  time,  I  would  have  troubled 
you  with  a  partial  inspection  of  the  work.  It  occurred  to  nie  that  I  w>mid 
have  some  recreation  the  past  summer,  and  seek  repose  from  the  unhealthful 
excitement  of  the  times  in  an  attempted  versification  of  the  seasons  from 
Advent  to  Trinity  on  the  basis  of  the  Church's  teaching's,  which  on  a  study 
of  Keble  I  foiind  had  n(^t  been  attempted.  Your  work  was  before  ]ne,  but 
that  was  on  the  '  Introits,'  and  ilid  not  pre-occupy  the  ijround.  Ami  here 
you  will  permit  me  to  say,  that  I  have  been  more  forcildy  struck  witli  the 
singular  beauty  of  that  work  upon  a  second  review.  It  is  indeed  a  ^;em. 
And  if  you  had  traversed  the  path,  I  should  not  have  attempted  to  amuse 
myself  in  that  line  of  thought.  I  wrote  for  my  own  amusement,  and  with 
no  intention  to  submit  it  even  to  a  partial  i)ultlicati<jn.  Lewin  and  several 
of  the  clergy  strongly  pressed  me  to  put  it  in  print,  and  I  have  partially 
consented.  It  is  a  ventiare  and  may  l)e  ill  advised.  Dr.  Sprague,  of  Albany, 
has  also  urged  me  to  go  on.  As  I  said,  I  did  not  trouble  you  because  you 
have  really  so  much  that  is  luore  weighty  uj)on  your  hands,  so  much  i>n 
which  the  Church's  welfare  iu  our  midst  depends,  that  I  did  not  think  it 
woiild  be  right.  Besides,  your  friendshij)  for  me  would  have  made  it  sad  for 
you  to  have  said,  pause,  where  they  counselled,  go  forward.  I  shall  be  iu 
Baltimore  on  the  27th  ;  and  perhaps  I  may  still  submit  some  one  jxa-tion  to 
yo^^  perusal :  say,  Epiphany  and  its  successive  Siindays,  or  the  Holy  Week. 
Love  to  all. 

"  Yours  affectionately  and  faithfnlly, 
'MoHN  H.  Alexander,  LL.  D.  W.  PINKNEY." 

About  fourteen  years  after  the  pnl)lieation  of  "  The  Sonp's  for 
the  Seasons,''  Dr.  Pinkxey.  then  Bishop,  sent  to  IVIiss  Eleanor 
Lewin,  eldest  daughter  of  his  dear  friend,  Eev.  Dr.  Meyer  Lewin. 
as  a  memento,  a  copy  of  the  volume  with  interlinear  and  marguial 
emendations  written  with  his  own  hand  in  hik — alterations  which 
he  thought  would  improve  the  versitication,  if  they  did  not  add 
to  the  sentiment.  He  accompanied  the  gift  with  the  followuig 
letter  : 

"  Ja Hilar  1/  3,  187'.t. 

"  My  Dear  Nellie  :  There  were  defects  in  the  rhyme  and  the  metre  which 
escaped  my  notice  at  the  time.  Such  defects  occasionally  occur  in  scnne  of 
our  most  admired  hymns,  and  in  some  of  the  best  productions  of  our  best 
poets,  as  in  the  hymn  'Hark  1  the  herald  angels  sing,'  where  '  Bt'thleln-m  ' 
rhymes  'proclaim.' 

''But  thev  are  blemishes,  and  I  wish  to  remove  them  while  I  live.  No 
other  edition  will  ever  ai)pcar.  If  I  could  roll  l)ack  the  tide  of  time  or 
obliterate  its  traces,  this  would  soon  disappear.  As  I  cannot,  I  desire  to  leave 
this  edition  as  correct  as  possible  even  though  I  run  the  risk  of  taking  out  the 
nerve  of  the  expression  in  homage  to  the  rhyme.  Y'ou  have  one  thought  to 
abide  with  you  when  I  am  g(me.'and  that  is',  that  my  <>\vn  hand  is  mingled 
with  the  printer's  type. 

"  A  Happy  New  Year  to  you.  Time  flies.  The  shailows  are  beginning  to 
fall  thickly  \m  my  itath.  My  work  is  nearly  done.  Poorly  I  know  it  tn  lie. 
Y'ou  are  iii  the  early  dawn.  With  a  mind  richly  stored,  and  a  heart  fresh 
as  the  lily  cup  with  "the  dew  on  it,  and  bright  as  the  bird  of  hopf  just  from 


134  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

his  softest  nest  can  make  it,  yoii  do  well  to  be  glad  and  lift  up  your  soul  in 
praise. 

••I  have  been  occupied  the  last  two  days  in  getting  my  papers  in  order. 
This  is  now  finished.  It  grieves  me  that  much  wiser,  stronger,  better  men 
than  I  were  not  called  to  the  seat  of  power  I  hold.  But  there  is  a  touching- 
mystery  in  this.  They  are  reserved  for  the  higher  service  in  the  bright 
Upper  "Kingdom.     They  are  waiting  noic  to  reign  as  kings  then. 

"  Your  dear  father  and  mother  have  great  cause  to  be  thankful  to  GOD 
for  their  children  :  all  of  them  well  and  doing  well.  Willie,  if  he  lives,  will 
till  up  the  measure  of  his  father's  brain,  and  I  hope  he  may  live  to  take  up 
his  staif ,  for  I  think  the  father,  great  as  he  was,  will  be  honored  in  the  son. 
A  Happy  New  Year  to  you  all. 

"  Affectionately, 
"  Miss  Nellie  Lewin.  W.  PINKNEY. 

"  I'ou  are  one  of  three  or  four  for  whom  I  have  done  this.  I  flattered 
myself  that  the  handwriting  would  atone  to  you  for  the  blotting  of  the 
sheets." 

A  few  years  before  the  above  letter  was  written,  Bishop  Pinknet 
had  sent  to  the  same  young  friend,  as  a  bii-thday  gift,  a  copy  of 
a  collection  of  j)oems  entitled  "  The  Songs  of  the  8j)irit,"  which 
contained  one  of  his  own  poems  taken  from  the  "  Songs  for  the 
Seasons."  Miss  Lewin.  in  thanking  him  for  the  gift,  expressed 
her  gratification  in  finding  in  the  collection  one  of  his  own 
poems. 

To  this  the  Bishop  replied : 

"  Bishop  Pliikney  to  Miss  Eleanor  Le\mi. 

''November  2^,  1873. 

' '  My  Dear  Nellie  :  I  thank  you  for  your  very  sweet  letter.  So  you. 
passed  over  the  rich,  rare  gems  in  the  collection,  with  centuries  of  polish 
up<jn  them,  to  take  tip  a  poor  pebble  that  was  washed  on  the  shore  only  a 
few  years  gone  bj*.  Y'ou  passed  by  the  diamond  thoughts  that  were  flashing 
from  every  page,  to  look  at  a  little  dew-drop  that  dissolves  at  the  touch,  and 
that,  too,  a  dew-drop  not  distilled  from  the  skies,  but  born  of  earth.  Well  I 
so  it  is,  my  child.  Affection  ofteii  blinds  us  to  the  beautiful,  and  magnifies 
a  trifle  into  something  of  value. 

"  The  volume  has  poetry  in  it,  and  you  will  not  fail  to  find  it  out.     Already 
you  have  given  good  promise  of    a  skill    in  poesy,  which  will  develop,  I 
doubt  not,  in  something  that  may  be  gathered  up  by  and  by  more  akin  to- 
the  diamond  than  the  pebble.     Love  to  all. 
"  l''ours  affectionately, 

"W.  PINKNEY." 

In  1869  Dr.  Pinkney  issued  from  the  press  another  small 
volume  of  poems,  entitled  "  Ernest  Murray :  or  a  dream  of  life," 
with  numerous  "  sonnets "'  appended.  Like  '■  The  Songs  for  the 
Seasons  '"  it  was  dedicated  to  his  parishioners,  but  in  this  case  ''  to 
the  young  members  of  Ascension  parish,'"  with  the  purpose  that 
the  proceeds  of  sale  should  be  given  to  "  The  Ladies"  Association 
for  the  Ijenefit  of  the  church."'  Only  a  limited  edition  was  pub- 
lished, and  no  special  efforts  were  made  to  promote  its  sale.  Iil 
his  dedication  of  the  work  he  says  : 


1 


LIFE    OF    BISHOr    I'lXKNEY.  l.*!;"* 

"  I  have  iudulf^ed  myself  in  a  dream  of  life.  Some  may  think  it  too  hit^hly 
colored,  but  still  it  is  life  as  it  should  be,  and  as,  ])y  the  ^Tuce  of  (JOD.  it 
may  become.  If  I  should,  in  this  little,  uniJicttMidinu  vohiiiif.  tuui'li  one 
chord  of  feeling  in  your  bosimi,  or  communicate  to  yoii  one  thou;,dit  worthy 
<if  being  remembered,  or  be  able  to  add  a  mite  to  the  fund  now  in  the  hand's 
of  the  working  ladies  oi  the  parish,  whose  self-sacriticing  labors  liave  been 
my  solace  and  my  joy,  I  shall  have  attained  all  that  I  ecuild  desire. 

"  You  will  accept  the  ofl'ering  as  a  pledge  of  no  common  love  ft. r  those 
who  have  never  failed  in  tender  love  to  me." 

The  i^oem,  in  blank  verse,  is  a  smgulaiiy  toucliiug  and  beautiful 
story  of  early  love  and  wedded  life,  at  first  full  of  domestic  l^liss 
and  hallowed  joys;  then  of  woman's  uufailino^  devotion  in  holy 
trust,  and  prayer,  and  wifely  love,  under  and  all  through  the 
change  that  passed  for  a  season  over  "  love's  young  dream ;  "  and 
finally  of  the  sweet  return  of  tender  love  and  wedded  joy  in  a 
happy  Christian  home  sanctified  by  deeds  of  piety  and  charity 
in  the  communion  of  the  Church. 

The  concluding-  paragraph  gives  its  moral : 

'*  A  moral  learn.     How  potent  is  the  spell 
Of  woman's  faith  in  this  dark,  fitful  hour  I 
How  vigils  kept,  and  words  of  silent  praver. 
Are  blessed  of  GOD  the  ills  of  life  to  heal ! 
They  are  so  like  the  secret,  subtle  powers 
That  rule  the  air  and  mould  the  earth  at  will ; 
The  all-jjervadiug  light,  the  pearly  dew. 
That  one  can  scarcely  tell  the  force  he  feels. 
And  still  another  moral  lies  concealed 
Beneath  the  web  unw'oven  of  a  life 
Which  all  who  on  it  gaze  may  emulate. 
It  is,  how  sweet  a  homestead  may  be  made 
By  unpretending,  meekest  deeds  of  love  ; 
HoW'  much  of  music  may  be  w^afted  o'er 
The  social  board  where,  each  returning  eve, 
The  loved  ones  gather  to  disport  in  smiles, 
And  every  string  to  melody  is  tuned 
By  those  who  skilful  are  in  the  great  art." 

The  '•  sonnets,"  fifty-two  in  number,  apj^ended  to  this  poem, 
are  upon  a  variety  of  subjects,  some  addressed  to  persons,  some 
"  in  memoriam,"  and  some  on  reminiscences  of  places  ;  and  in  all 
of  them  there  is  the  same  sweet  flow  of  thought,  feeling,  and 
diction  that  characterizes  all  his  poetry. 

The  brief  lyrics,  already  referred  to,  which  he  wrote  at  inter- 
vals, and  later  in  life,  and  were  printed  on  leaflets,  are  here 
introduced  in  ftdl,  as  printed. 

In  1880,  he"wrote  and  had  so  printed  "The  Old  Clock."  The 
Bishop's  preparatory  note,  and  the  monogram  itself,  sufliciently 
explain  the  circumstances.  "  The  Old  Clock "  was  an  heirloom 
in  his  wife's  family,  and  as  it  stood  upon  the  mantel  in  his  Blen- 
heim home,  and  was  daily  looked  up  to  in  noting  the  hours  as 
they  passed,  his  thoughts  clustered  aroimd  the  history  and  asso 


136  LIFE    OF    BISHOr    riNKXEY. 

ciatious  connected  with  ''  The  Old  Clock."     In  fancy  he  makes  it 
tell  its  own  history : 

THE  OLD  CLOCK. 

This  old  clock  was  imi^orted  from  England  by  Edward  Lloyd,  whose  son 
was  governor,  and  taken  to  his  beautiful  estate.  Wye,  in  Talbot  county, 
Maryland.  On  his  death  it  was  removed  to  Annapolis,  where  it  stood  for 
years  in  the  old  Lloyd  mansion.  It  was  then  removed  to  Blenheim,  near 
IBladeusburg,  Prince  George's  county,  where  it  still  is.  This  was  the  family 
residence  of  Richard  T.  Lowndes,  Esq. 

It  rests  on  two  marble  pillar,  and  is  surmoiinted  by  a  large  brass  eagle, 
with  outstretched  wings.  The  mechanism  is  antique,  dating  back  over  one 
hundred  years. 

W.  P. 
An  old-time  clock  essayed  to  tell 

Its  history  to  me ; 
A  strange  and  checkered  tale  it  is, 
Of  sorrow  and  of  glee. 

My  first  sweet  home  beyond  the  seas 

Was  England,  free  and  grand. 
Whose  palaces  and  castle  towers 
O'erlooked  the  rock-girt  strand. 

But  of  those  early  sunny  hours 

'Tis  little  I  can  glean. 
Save  that  in  gallant  ship  I  roA'ed 

O'er  ocean's  silvery  sheen. 

I  listened  to  the  pf[3ing  breeze 

Which  filled  the  flowing  sail ; 
I  heard  the  tempest's  deafening  roar 

Which  made  the  stout  heart  qiiail  : 

I  gazed  upon  the  foaming  deep. 

The  waste  of  waters  'roimd  : 
And  revelled  in  the  beautiful 

And  terrible  profound. 

"There  is  a  nameless  majesty, 

A  secret,  potent  spell 
In  ocean,  when  at  rest  it  lies. 

As  in  its  wildest  swell. 

Old  ocean  passed,  we  neared  the  capes 

Which  stood  out  from  the  shore : 
And  thou  I  felt  that  I  should  rove 

That  heaviu"  sea  no  more. 


Erom  this  time  forth  the  Western  world, 

A  land  surpassing  fair. 
Became  my  happy,  bright  abode, 

Happy  beyond  compare. 

'Twas  on  a  sweet,  autumnal  morn. 

This  old  clock  said  to  me, 
"When  first  I  saw  the  l)auks  of  Wye,  J 

Mv  rest  bevond  the  sea.  { 


LIFE    OF    lilSlloi'    I'INKM'.V.  137 

A  resting-i)liU'('  most  fit  it  was. 

Emblem  of  Eiij^land's  jiridc  ; 
For,  tlioiij^h  uo  massivf  fortress  fi'owiu'd 

Across  8t.  George's  tide. 

There  was  euough  of  wealth  ami  jiower 

On  beauteous  bunks  of  Wve. 
The  England  I  had  left  behind 

To  i3ich;re  to  the  eye. 

A  lawn  of  velvet,  fresh  and  green. 

Lay  stretched  serenely  there. 
While  feathered  songsters  trilled  their  notes 

All  blithely  on  the  air. 

The  owner  of  that  lordly  place. 

Of  English  birth  and  name. 
Though  not  a  subject  of  the  realm. 

Sustained  its  ancient  fame. 

How  long  I  stayed,  or  what  I  saw, 

While  resident  at  Wye 
Is  living  now  in  echoes  soft, 

Enshrined  in  memory. 
*  *  *  * 

Next  I  was  called  to  chime  the  hours 

Near  Chesapeake's  blue  wave. 
Where  Severn  rolls  its  silver  tide 

And  Anne's  town  is  laid. 

They  placed  me  on  an  antique  board, 

To  tick  the  lapse  of  time. 
And  all  within  the  mansion  heard 

Kich  miasic  in  my  chime. 

The  lady  *  I  remember  well. 

Who  graced  the  parlor  where 
I  stood  ;  the  chronicler  of  .ioys 

That  bloomed  and  blossomed  there. 

She  was  the  paragon  of  all 

That  constitutes  the  power 
Of  woman  in  her  fairest  form. 

The  gem  of  Eden's  bower. 

The  young  and  beautiful  and  gay 

Disported  in  her  smile  ; 
The  old,  whose  locks  were  turned  to  gray. 

E'er  tiirned  to  her  the  while. 

A  clust'ring  band  of  maidens  fair. 

Like  dewy  buds  in  May, 
By  many  winning  arts  conspired 

To  lengthen  out  the  day. 

Or  in  the  quiet  hours  of  eve. 

When  shadows  near  are  cast. 
With  smile  and  joyovis  laughter  made 

The  minutes  fly  too  fast. 


*  Mrs.  Lloyd. 


138  LIFE    OF    UISHOr    riXKNEY. 

A  poet's  eye  *  oft  looked  on  me  ; 

And  yet.  'tis  strange  to  tell. 
He  never  with  his  tunet'nl  lyre 

Once  thanked  me  for  the  spell 

With  which  I  soothed  the  passing  hours. 

As  swiftly  as  they  flew, 
Turning  their  leaden  wings  to  joy, 

And  o'er  them  drojjping  dew. 

That  poet  there  a  maiden  sought, 

A  queenly  maid  w'as  she. 
Of  eyes  of  blue  and  flaxen  locks, 

And  air  of  witchery. 

He  wooed,  and  won  the  heart  he  wooed. 

A  prize  of  golden  hue, 
Yet  not  one  song  did  he  indite 

The  old  clock  fair  and  true. 

He  sung  of  freedom,  and  the  cause 

Bj'  freemen  held  so  dear. 
Whose  banner  waved  triumphantly 

When  freedom's  foes  were  near. 

'Tis  true  a  soaring  eagle  perched 

UlJon  my  head  to  rest. 
And  yet  I  failed  one  chord  to  touch 

Within  his  tuneful  breast. 

*  *  *  * 

A  custom  from  the  land  I  left. 
Old  England  true  and  brave. 

O'er  which  St.  Geoi-ge's  cross  doth  still 
In  holy  triumph  wave. 

The  custom,  I  remember  well, 
Was  practised  here  as  there  : 

'Twas  at  the  chime  of  nine  to  sit. 
The  gallant  and  the  fair. 

By  board  with  rarest  dainties  spread, 
And  sparkling  cup  of  wine  : 

With  flash  of  wit  to  season  well 
That  thrilling  chime  at  nine. 

Long  years  flew'  by,  but  still  I  gazed 
On  many  a  blissful  scene  : 

And  tick,  tick,  tick,  I  chimed  the  hours 
Which  fled  like  fancy's  dream. 

*  *  *  * 

They  took  me  to  an  inland  home, 
'Mid  fields  and  forest  trees, 

Where  flowers  their  sweetest  odors  flung 
Out  on  the  truant  breeze. 

It  was  to  me  a  happy  home. 
The  days  flew  swift  and  fast ; 

And  hai^pier  hearts  rich  incense  breathed 
Upon  them  as  they  passed. 

*  F.  S.  Key. 


LIFE    OF    BISHOl'    rrXKNEY.  13<J' 

'Twas  not  the  wealth  that  charnu-d  me  ikpw, 

Those  acres  broad  and  },'raud  ; 
A  mirror  of  St.  Geor^'e's  cross, 

My  own  sweet  fatherland. 

Oh.  no  1   it  was  the  blending  there 

Of  lovinf,'  lieart  with  heart ; 
It  was  the  t,'rasp  which  fondly  clings 

"NVitli  hooks  no  force  can  ])art. 

The  owner  *  of  that  inland  home, 

Of  noblest  fonn  and  mould, 
A  gentleman  he  was  ' '  who>ie  like 

We'll  ne'er  again  beliold." 

There  was  a  native  dignity, 

A  matchless  power  and  grace 
In  all  the  deeds  his  life  displayed, 

And  beamings  of  his  face. 

Uusnllied  from  his  childhood  hours, 

Untouched  by  taint  of  earth, 
A  diamond  of  the  brightest  ray 

Could  scarce  reflect  his  worth. 

Well  read  in  England's  classic  lore, 

Endowed  with  native  wit ; 
The  very  realm  of  dulness  he 

With  beams  of  gladness  lit. 

Britannia's  list  of  lordly  knights 

No  nobler  name  displayed  ; 
The  green  sod,  let  it  lightly  pres."* 

Where  his  fair  form  is  laid. 


The  lady  +  of  that  mansion,  too. 

Of  gentleness  made  up  ; 
Her  voice  was  feeling's  magic  tone. 

Her  heart  was  feeling's  cup. 

Though  reared  in  stateliness  and  i:)omp, 

With  every  want  supplied. 
She  meekly  bowed  her  head,  and  smiled 

When  blessings  were  denied. 

To  cheer  the  path  by  sorrow  trod. 

To  smooth  the  rugged  way, 
She  labored  on  in  cheerfulness 

And  sped  the  passing  day. 

The  i30or  ne'er  envied  her  her  lot, 

For  sure  they  always  felt 
That  as  a  steward  of  her  Lord, 

She  with  them  fairly  dealt. 


*  E.  T.  Lowndes. 

+  Mrs.  R.  T.  Lowndes. 


140  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PIXKNEY. 

The  life  which  sweetly  passed  below 
In  iDrayfulness  and  love, 

Melted  into  the  l)ri<j;hter  life 
That  culminates  above. 


One  maid  there  was.  of  dtirk  brown  hair. 

And  one  of  lighter  hue. 
Unlike  in  form,  in  features  fair, 

Each  *  had  an  eye  of  blue. 

They  grew  together  on  one  stem, 

They  drank  of  common  dew  : 
Their  hearts  were  blended  closer  still. 

If  e'en  their  hearts  were  two. 

Two  youths  +  there  were  in  that  bright  throng 

The  one  of  sjiarkling  wit. 
The  other  pure  as  drop  of  dew 

With  morning  sunbeam  lit. 

But  still  one  other  change  came  o'er 

My  life's  poetic  dream  : 
I  see  it  now.  I  feel  it.  too, 

A  fitful,  changeful  stream. 

Two  links  are  all  that  now  are  left 

Upon  that  golden  chftin  : 
The  other  links,  I  trust,  repose 

Where  loves  eternal  reign. 

Tick,  tick,  tick,  I  note  the  hours, 

A  solitary  thing  : 
Myself  alone,  unchanged  as  yet. 

Of  changeful  time  I  sing. 

Tick,  tick.  tick.  I  count  the  hours. 

From  sunrise  to  sunset : 
And  all  through  life's  declining  years 

To  tick  I'll  ne'er  forget. 

I  know  'tis  sad  alone  to  be. 

Survivor  of  our  joys. 
Where  but  an  echo  of  the  past 

Our  sympathy  employs. 

But  still  a  solace  sweet  there  is. 

A  rich  consoling  power. 
In  thought  that  sorrows  all  will  cease 

With  life's  fast  fleeting  hour. 

In  thought  that  as  the  moments  fly. 

And  time  grows  daily  less. 
My  tick  proclaims  the  end  of  all 

In  this  bleak  wilderness. 

And  when  all  chime  of  hour  is  o'er. 

And  time  itself  shall  die, 
Immeasureless,  in  waves  of  light. 

Shall  flow  eternity. 


*  Misses  A.  and  E.  L.  Lowndes. 
+  Edward  and  B.  O.  Lowndes. 


LIFE    OF    JMSIIOI'    I'INKNEY.  I  II 

"  The  Soiig-  of  the  Aiio-t'ls,"  a  Christmiis  lyric,  whk  written  iit 
the  close  of  the  year  1882.  and  a  hmited  muuhci-  was  jjrinted  on 
a  beautiful  leaflet,  copies  of  which  he  sent  to  his  friends.  It  is 
here  ^-iven  : 

THE  SONG  OF  THE  ANGELS. 

The  sdiiL^  of  tlu-  iinj,'t'ls. 

How  smoothly  it  j^liih-s 
Over  moiiutain  and  viiUey 

Aud  swift-rolliug  tides, 

To  the  meek  ear  of  faith, 

Whifh  drinks  in  the  note, 
Surpassing,  in  sweetness. 

All  echoes  that  flout ; 

From  the  whisper  of  pines 

And  hill  (if  the  waves. 
To  the  night  bird,  that  warbles 

On  trees  amid  graves. 

The  song  of  the  angels, 

O  let  it  sweep  on, 
Thongh  mute  be  their  harp-strings, 

The  minstrelsy  gone. 

For  how  can  a  music. 

So  marvellous,  die. 
If  faith  be  the  hearer. 

With  star  in  the  sky  ? 

The  D(mie  is  still  lighted 

By  lamps  hung  on  high  : 
The"  ladder,  not  lifted,  " 

Is  linked  to  the  sky. 

Why  may  not  the  angels 

Still  hover  on  wing. 
Ascending,  descending, 

Glad  tidings  to  bring  ? 

In  cathedrals  of  old 

The  song  is  still  heard. 
Proclaiming  the  story 

Of  Jesus  the  Word. 

The  song  of  the  angels 

Is  ever  the  same  ; 
The  spark  it  enkindles 

Of  love  into  flame. 

For  while  shepherds  no  more 

Their  vigils  may  keep 
O'er  flocks  in  the  starlight. 

The  lambs,  and  the  sheep, 

While  all  may  be  silent 

And  hushed  in  the  sky. 
There's  music  still  floating 
L  As  angels  sweep  by. 


142  LIFE    or    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

I  will  uot,  I  will  not 

Give  up  my  fond  dream, 

However  unlikely 

To  sense  it  may  seem, 

That  I,  a  lone  pil,i2;rim. 
Those  angels  still  hear, 

Who  see  a  bris^ht  diamond 
In  each  falling  tear. 

Give  the  glory  to  God, 
The  song  is  the  same. 

The  harps  are  all  golden. 
The  wings  are  all  flame. 

The  ages  roll  by  me, 
I  muse  by  the  way. 

Each  sweep  of  the  billow 
Commands  me  to  pray. 

'  The  manger  still  greets  me, 

The  sweet  babe  within, 
The  love  to  redeem  me. 
From  bondage  and  sin. 

No  flow  in  the  river 

Those  marks  can  erase ; 

They'll  stand  there  forever, 
Bright  symbols  of  grace. 

AVho  then  can  imagine 
That  angels  no  more 

Will  waft  their  hosannas 
From  mountain  to  shore  ? 

Ascending,  descending. 
That  ladder  of  gold. 

Was  not  this  the  bright  dream 
To  Jacob  of  old  ? 

And  when  they  stood  over 
The  manger  that  night, 

And  i^oured  on  the  chill  ah- 
Their  song  of  delight. 

Was  not  that  sweet  echo 
E'er  destined  to  be 

The  music  to  linger 
O'er  highland  and  sea. 

Till  Ifjst  in  the  anthem 
Of  glory  and  praise, 

When  the  new  song  is  sung 
To  th'  ancient  of  days  ? 

For  one  I  believe  it, 
'Tis  sweeter  to  me 

Than  fdl  below  heaven. 
Or  aught  else  I  see. 

I  sit  by  the  wayside 
With  tear  in  the  eye. 

My  heart,  it  is  heavy, 
My  burden  a  sigh. 


LIFE    OF    r.ISIlol'    riNKNEY.  143 

But  in  mv  depressiou 

I  list  to  the  lay 
Wliifli  angels  of  glory 

Made  tuneful  that  day. 

As  I  listen,  I  hear 

The  harpings  of  old. 
The  bright  angels  I  see, 

Yon  ladder  of  gold. 

— "William  Pinkney. 


Perhaps  the  most  highly  prized  of  the  letters  that  came  to  him 
iu  relation  to  his  poetical  compositions  was  that  received  at  a  later 
period  from  his  valued  friend,  Dr.  J.  C.  "Welling,  President  of 
Columbian  University,  who  upon  the  receipt  of  "  The  Songs  of 
the  Angels,"  at  the  Christmastide  of  1882,  sent  the  following- 
letter  : 

"  V,y.iO  lilTH  St.,  Washington.  January  2-i,  iHs:}. 

"  My  Deae  Bishop  :  I  have  very  sincerely  to  thank  you  for  your  kind  note, 
and  for  the  beantiful  Christmas  lyrie  with  which  it  is  acc(Mnpauied.  And 
this  time  I  have  had  the  '  (lentle  shepherdess'  to  share  with  me  the  i)leas- 
iire  of  reading  your  tiineful  measures.  What  a  fou-ntain  of  i)oetic  ins})iratiou 
has  been  opened  in  the  Christian  castaly  I  A  thonsand  poets  have  dropped 
their  golden  urns  into  its  crystal  de])ths,  and  yet  your  '  Songs  of  the  Angels ' 
comes  to  remind  us  that  we  can  still  write  '  labitur  et  labctur  '  in  praise  of 
the  waters  which  are  as  perennial  as  they  are  pure  and  sjjarkling. 

"  The  old  critics  seem  to  have  suspected  that  tliere  was  something  factitious 
in  the  supernatin-alism  of  the  classic  mythology,  and  hence  they  gave  to  it 
the  name  of  '  machinery,'  when  it  was  applied  in  the  poetic  art,  and  the 
deua  ex  machina  became  a  sort  of  byword. 

"  You  have  made  a  high  poetical  use  of  the  mystic  ladder  which  meets  us 
in  Genesis  and  in  St.  John's  Gospel.  One  of  the  old  Latin  hymnologists, 
Adam  of  St.  Victor,  has  seen  in  that  ladder  a  type  of  Christ :  its  base  rests 
on  earth,  in  Christ's  humanity ;  its  top  '  is  linked  to  the  sky '  because  it 
rests  against  Christ's  Divinity. 

"  We  hope  soon  to  see  yoir  iu  our  new  home,  where  I  need  not  say  for  the 
gentle  shepherdess  or  myself,  that  yoii  will  always  find  a  cordial  greeting, 
and  wishing  you  all  happiness  for  the  New  Y'ear,  I  am,  my  dear  Bishop, 

"  Most  affectionately  vours, 
••Bishop  Pinkney.  *  J.  C.  WELLING." 

Dr.  Pinkney  in  his  earlier  or  later  life  never  sought  and  coveted 
praise,  flattery  or  compliments,  hut  with  the  instincts  of  a  true 
and  noble  man,  earnestly  aiming  to  do  what  lay  within  his  power 
towards  all  things  good  and  useful,  and  even  Ijeautiful,  he 
thoroughly  appreciated  such  unsought  commendations  as  came 
to  him  from  those  in  whose  sincerity  and  judgment  he  coutided. 
Nor  had  these  the  effect  of  producing  in  him  vanity  and  self- 
elation.  They  rather  tended  to  deepen  his  Christian  humility 
and  his  sense  of  the  need  of  a  self-poised  character  to  withstand 
the  allm-ements  of  popularity  and  applause.  It  has  fallen  to  the 
lot  of  few  men  to  receive,  as  he  did,  so  many  strong  expressions 
and  tokens  of  regard  and  admiration  :  and  yet  one  could  never 
have  known,  from  anvthino-  that  he   said  or  did.  that  he  was  the 


144  ■       LIFE    OF    BISHOP    TINKNEY. 

favored  recipient  of  such  liiofh  laudations.  Humility  was  the 
beautiful  featiu'e  in  his  Christian  character. 

His  last  two  poems  were  ''A  Little  While  ""  and  '•  The  Old  Ai'm- 
Chair : ""  the  first  written  some  time  before,  and  the  latter  after, 
the  death  of  his  wife,  probably  not  long  before  his  own  decease. 

A  feeling  of  sadness  and  chastened  sorrow  pervades  them  both, 
but  it  was  mingled  with  a  sweet  and  holy  resignation,  and  with 
even  joyful  anticipations  of  the  glory  to  be  revealed.  He  felt 
that  he  was  nearing  the  end  of  his  own  working'  time  :  and  in 
the  few  biief  hours  for  self-musings  that  he  could  secure  from 
the  active  duties  of  the  Episcopate,  his  thoughts  dwelt  much  on 
the  blessed  rest  of  the  faithful  departed,  into  which  he  was 
ti'ustiug.  and  even  longing,  soon  to  enter  to  be  forever  with  the 
LORD,  and  in  blissful  reunion  with  the  loved  ones  gone  before. 
It  is  thus  that  we  see  somewhat  of  the  inner  life  of  the  soul. 

He  had  •'  A  Little  "WTiile  '"  printed  in  a  leaflet.     It  is  here  given : 

A  LITTLE  Y\'HILE. 

'Tis  but  a  little  while 

I  toil  below : 
The  foam  is  on  the  sea. 

Winds  jfiereely  blow. 
One  star  of  silver  sheen 

Bedecks  the  sky : 
It  glimmers  o'er  the  waste, 

Afar  and  nigh. 

It  is  the  sjTnbol  of 

Repose  and  peace : 
It  points  me  to  the  time 

When  storm-winds  cease. 
I  hail  it  in  the  dawn 

And  dewy  eve : 
Sweet  harbinger  of  hope. 

The  sonl's  reprieve. 

For  though  that  star  may  fade, 

It  is  the  sign 
Of  brighter  joys  in  store, 

A  golden  shrine. 
Where  hearts  may  Ijreathe  once  more 

Sweet  incense  there. 
Or  bathe  in  ocean  dejiths. 

Or  lisp  in  prayer. 

Oh  I  sweet  and  happy  thought  I 

Oh  I  bliss  complete  I 
'Mid  smiles  and  tears  to  bow 

At  Jesus'  feet ; 
Then  soar  on  viewless  wing 

"  'Mid  worlds  unknown," 
And  gaze  enrapt  upon 

The  great  white  throne  : 


LIFE    OF    15ISII0I'    riNKNEY,  MJ 

And  drink  the  liini)i(l  stivain 

That  flows  l)t'sidf 
The  New  Jenisalfiii, 

The  Lanil)'s  pure  Bride  ; 
And  walk  the  golden  streets, 

And  ever  sing 
Hosannas  to  the  Lord, 

Onr  Priest  and  King. 

Glide  on  ye  languid  hours, 

Take  swifter  wing : 
I  count  the  moments  o'er, 

A  weary  thing 
To  this  ])oor.  helpless  soul 

That  longs  to  see 
The  marvels  of  God's  grace 

Revealed  in  me, 

As  they  will  soon  apjjear 

The  other  side 
Of  life's  dee])  mysteries 

And  turbid  ti(le ; 
When  every  deed  is  done, 

And  sorrow  past, 
I  stand  within  my  lot. 

Complete  at  last. 

A  while  to  linger  here, 

To  fast  and  pray  ; 
A  little  while  to  sow 

Beside  the  way ; 
While  tears  my  spirit  feed,. 

And  darkness  lowers, 
With  here  and  there  a  ray 

To  kiss  the  flowers. 

A  little  while,  and  then, 

The  palm  in  hand, 
The  river  in  its  flow. 

And  golden  strand, 
The  smile  of  God  within, 

The  sweet  repose, 
The  heart  from  sin  set  free. 

As  free  from  woes. 

Oh  !  sweet  and  happy  day  ! 

I  wish  thee  near  : 
"  No  wrinkle  on  thy  brow,"' 

No  briny  tear ; 
All  hail  I  a  thrice  all  hail ! 

I  sigh  for  rest, 
I  long  to  lay  me  down 

Upon  His  breast, 

Who  died  that  we  might  live. 

Forever  more, 
And  sweep  a  golden  harp 

On  Beulah's  shore. 
He  still  in  pity  waits, 

Locks  wet  with  dew. 
Each  spot  of  sin  to  cleanse,. 

Each  soul  renew. 


146  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

I  do  uot  dare  repine 

At  His  decree. 
"Who  has  ordained  that  I 

Should  roam  a  sea 
So  swept  by  angry  storms 

And  tossed  at  will : 
Por  I  can  see  the  bow 

Bent  o'er  it  still. 

I  do  not  ask  to  go 

Before  the  time : 
I  only  ask  that  I 

May  hear  the  chime 
Of  bells  within  the  heart, 

Sweet  hope  and  love, 
AVhich  ever  music  wake 

Like  that  above. 

I  only  ask  for  faith 

To  keep  me  pure — 
To  nerve  me  for  the  ills 

That  I  endure — 
The  star  of  hope  to  see 

That  glimmers  on ; 
Till  I  above  it  soar. 

All  duty  done. 

— William  Pixkxey. 

"  The  Old-Ai-m  Chair  "  was  found  among  his  3IS.  jDapers.  It  is 
not  known  that  it  was  ever  printed.  The  original  is  marked  with 
his  interhneations  and  corrections,  and  seems  to  have  been  left 
in  a  complete  state.     It  is  here  given : 

'Tis  passing  strange,  the  old  arm-chair. 

Deserted  now  I  see  ; 
No  more  those  tender  eyes  of  blue 

Look  up  in  love  on  me. : 

I  look,  but  still  I  look  in  vain. 

No  form  is  resting  there. 
The  smile  is  gone,  the  music  note ! 

All  but  that  old  arm-chair. 

And  yet  it  hath  a  tuneful  tongue, 

Sweeter  than  organ  tone. 
Which  rings  in  echoes  on  my  soul. 

Though  I  am  left  alone. 

I  sit  beside  it  as  of  old, 

I  see  the  image  still. 
Which  made  the  valleys  smile  with  joy, 

And  each  meandering  rill. 

It  breathes  on  me  and  oft  repeats 

The  tale  of  ceaseless  love  : 
And  o'er  the  desert  waste  of  life, 

In  whispers  of  the  Dove 


LIFE    OF    insnol'    I'INKNHV.  1-17 

Who  hovers  o'er  the  chirk  abyss. 

Ami  turns  my  ui<^'ht  to  ihiy. 
Recalling  to  my  iingnished  heart 

Its  sure,  abiding  stay. 

It  tells  mo  she  hath  gone  befor<> 

To  wait  in  patience  tliere. 
Where  hope  is  swallowed  np  in  bliss. 

A  bliss  beyond  compare. 

And  as  on  bended  knee  I  bow 

Beside  that  old  arm-chair. 
I  feel  the  hallowed  touch  of  love, 

While  I  kneel  meekly  there. 

I  would  not  give  the  thoughts  that  burn 

Those  pledges  sweet  of  love. 
For  all  that  earth  can  yield  to  me. 

As  I  through  desert  rove. 

That  old  arm-chair,  I  hail  it  still, 

So  sweet  in  its  re])()se  ; 
The  ladder  on  it  laid,  I  see. 

With  scent  of  Sharon's  rose. 

I  see  her  still,  as  oft  before. 

Serenely  seated  there  ; 
Or  else  in  lowliness  and  faith. 

Kneeling  in  act  of  prayer. 

I  wander  on  in  solitude, 

A  pilgrim  here  below. 
In  hope  that  I  at  last  may  see 

The  laud  of  golden  glow. 

And  as  I  sit  in  silence  there, 

Or  kneeling  down  I  pray, 
I  catch  by  faith  the  angel  song 

Which  speeds  the  coming  day 

When  tears  shall  be  to  diamonds  turned. 

Those  diamond  drops  of  dew  ; 
And  every  sigh  be  lu;shed  in  joy, 

"  All  rapture  through  and  through." 

These  musings  on  the  happy  past. 

So  full  of  cheer  to  me. 
Appear  as  angels,  sent  in  love, 

To  bear  my  soul  to  thee. 

The  LORD  of  life  incarnate  word. 

Who  leads  Thy  children  home  ; 
And  o'er  each  troubled  soul  of  thine 

Whispers  the  welcome,  come, 

I'll  give  you  rest,  the  endless  rest, 

To  burdened  souls  so  sweet. 
On  Beulah's  shore  where  sorrow  cease 

And  all  is  love  complete. 


148  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   PINKNEY. 

By  faith  I  see  the  image  still 
Which  loves  to  linger  there  ; 

The  touch  I  feel  that  thrills  me  now 
Of  that  dear  old  arm-chair. 

It  is  the  soother  of  the  heart, 
Link  on  the  mystic  chain, 

I  love  it  still.     It  bids  me  hope, 
Nor  evermore  complain. 

'Tis  passing  strange  and  wonderful  I 

No  changes  do  I  see. 
Save  that  one  loved  one  less  remains 

To  look  in  love  on  me. 

I  cross  the  threshhold  of  the  room, 
Where  all  that  meets  my  eye 

Keflects  the  joy  that  once  was  mine 
When  not  a  cloud  was  nigh. 

I  pause  to  catch  the  music  tone, 

I  fancy  I  can  hear 
Those  accents  soft,  that  woke  a  smile, 

Or  brushed  away  a  tear. 

But  this  I  know  may  never  be. 

My  lot  in  life  is  cast ; 
It  is  to  watch,  and  work,  and  weep. 

Till  Jordan's  waves  are  passed. 

I  would  not  have  the  cross  removed, 
It  is  the  LORD'S  decree  ; 

Enough  it  is  to  know  and  feel 
The  cross  is  best  for  me. 

It  is  a  cross  beside  the  crown. 
My  SAVIOR  laid  it  there  ; 

LORD,  give  me  grace  to  welcome  it. 
Till  I  its  jewels  wear. 

Farewell  to  all  the  joys  of  yore. 
Farewell,  a  sad  farewell ; 

The  golden  gates  I  they  stand  ajar, 
Where  souls  in  CHRIST  shall  dwell. 

My  harp  is  on  the  willows  hung, 

I  sit  beside  the  stream  ; 
■'Tis  not  the  stream  of  Babylon, 

Where  hope  sheds  not  one  beam. 

My  seat  is  by  Siloam's  brook. 
Which  softly  glides  along 

Through  gardens,  where  the  bird  of  hope 
Pours  forth  its  matin  song. 

One  other  *  now  is  bowed  in  grief, 
He  sighs  in  silence  here  ; 

Yet  none  there  are  who  know  so  well 
The  blessing  of  a  tear. 


*Mr.  B.  O.  Lowndes. 


LIFE    OF    KISHOl'    PINKNEY.  149 

Her  lidurs  of  life  hi'  lived  to  soothe, 

To  duty  ever  true  ; 
O'er  her  he  shed  the  heart's  warm  light, 

Or  radiant  drops  of  dew. 

They  lived  together,  and  in  peace 

Tliey  sped  the  passing  hour  ; 
While  eaeh  into  the  other  grew 

Like  leaflets  on  one  flower. 

His  faith  looks  iip,  and  on  this  cross 

He  sees  his  Father's  will ; 
The  end  of  all  he  waits  to  see 

Kevealed  on  Zion's  hill. 

One  link  is  all  that  now  is  left 

On  Blenheim's  golden  chain  ; 
I  pray  that  GOD  may  reunite 

Those  links,  in  one,  again. 


160  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    TINKNEY. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Mr.  W.  W.  Corcoran— Death  of  Dk.  J.  H.  Alexander.     1866-'67-'G8. 

The  circumstaBces  which  led  to  Dr.  Pinkney's  first  acquamtance- 
with  Mr.  W.  W.  Corcoran,  so  far  as  Imown,  are  of  a  very  interest- 
ing character.  The  generous  proffer  by  the  latter  of  the  use  of 
the  building  on  H  street  for  the  j^ublic  services,  after  the  Church 
of  the  Ascension,  in  1862,  had  been  taken  possession  of  by  the 
military  authority  for  the  uses  of  a  hospital,  naturally  di-ew  the 
attention  of  Dr.  Pinkney  and  his  congregation  to  one  who  so 
kindly  came  forward  at  a  critical  juncture  for  theii-  relief.  It  is 
likely  that  Mr.  Corcoran,  Avith  his  well-known  sympathy  for  the 
South,  may  have  had  his  attention  specially  du-ected  to  Dr.  Pink- 
ney, also  noted  for  similar  views.  However  that  may  have  been, 
a  subsequent  mutual  acquaintance  was  formed,  which  ripened 
into  a  very  strong  and  enduring  friendship,  marked  throughout 
its  life-long  continuance  with  the  most  tender  evidences  and 
jDroofs  of  then-  mutual  love. 

The  munificent  gift  by  Mr.  Corcoran  of  a  costly  marble  font  to 
the  Church  of  the  Ascension  was  received  in  1866  and  called  for 
acknowledgment.  Dr.  Pinkney,  in  his  letter,  while  expressing  his 
thanks  for  the  gift,  took  occasion  to  speak  of  the  place  and  need 
of  baptism  in  the  Church  of  CHRIST,  as  symbolized  by  the  bap- 
tismal font. 

Mr.  Corcoran  had  been  all  along  an  attendant  upon  Church 
ministi"ations  in  one  of  the  city  churches,  but  he  was  still  unbap- 
tized  and  with  no  personal  interest  in  the  subject  of  religion. 
Although  not  a  jirofessor  of  religion,  he  was  a  man  of  large  and 
generous  sj^mpathies  and  of  most  liberal  benefactions  for  everj'- 
thiug  that  was  true  and  noble  and  tended  to  the  good  of  his 
fellow-creatures.  What  he  needed  was  the  recognition  and  ex- 
perience in  his  own  case  of  his  personal  need  of  a  Saviour  and  of 
the  obligations  of  high  and  holy  service  to  GOD  in  the  communion 
of  the  Church.  Dr.  Pinkney  was  blessed  in  being  the  instrument 
under  GOD  of  bringing  that  noble  man  and  eminent  philanthropist 
into  the  communion  of  the  Church  :  and  it  is  striking  to  note  with 
what  plainness  of  speech  and  Christian  boldness  in  all  dehcate 
and  persuasive,  and  yet  direct  and  pungent,  ways  he  brought  the 
matter  of  his  duty  before  the  great  banker. 

Dr.  Pinkney's  letter,  in  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  the  font., 
was  as  follows : 


LIFE    OF    mSHOI'    I'lNKNKV.  1  Tj  1 

••  Dr.  Pinkiuy  t»  Mr.    \V.    W.  ('»ri->,i;iu. 

••  .J II HUH rn  IH.  IHC.C. 
"  Dear  Sir  :  I  have  been  waitiiat,'  for  the  ivrrival  of  the  font  to  ueknowh'd^'c 
your  kind  thoughts  of  me  and  the  chiueh  at  whose  altar  it  in  my  f<'arful 
responsibility  to  minister  :  but  an  act  of  kindness  so  nnlooked  for  <lemands 
an  early  acknowlcd'^ment,  and  I  now  write  to  thank  yon  for  it.  You  have 
many  friends  of  lon^r  standin<^  who  are  far  more  eajiable  of  ajtpreciatinj^ 
your  _i;reat  liljerality  of  spirit,  and  from  whom  the  exprt-ssion  of  what  they 
feel  eould  not  l)ut  be  most  welcome  ;  but  not  one  of  them  has  vit>wed  with 
more  pride  and  pleasure  your  noble  acts,  and  that  more  nol.)le  sjnrit  that 
prompts  to  noble  acts  than  myself.  I  value  the  gift  not  so  much  for  its 
intrinsic  value  (and  it  is  t'xquisitely  beautiful  and  rich)  as  for  the  sympathy 
it  exi)resses,  and  the  good  feeling  of  the  giver  to  one  who  hail  no  claim 
whatever  on  your  beneticence.  While  you  were  abroad  I  often  thought  of 
you,  and  trusted  you  woiild  be  watched  over  and  guarded  until  your  return, 
and  now  that  you  are  at  home  again,  and  in  view  of  your  liberal  gifts  to  the 
city  where  you  reside,  I  trust  you  may  find  all  of  heart  happiness  that  is 
deemed  to  be  good  for  you  by  Him  from  whom  all  your  good  things  come. 
Your  gift  to  the  Ascension  is  a  most  invaluable  gift  to  us,  and,  my  dear  sir, 
would  it  be  transcending  the  boiands  of  propriety  for  one  who  does  not  sus- 
tain to  you  the  relation  of  pastor  to  suggest  that  it  calls  ujj  for  review  the 
tirst  and  highest  duty  we  owe  to  GOD  in  CHIUST  '/  You  have  wealth,  a  host 
of  friends,  a  career  of  usefulness  already  past,  full  of  kind  deeds  to  others, 
all  that  heart  could  covet  here  Ijelow  :  but,  without  faith  in  something 
higher — the  meek  following  in  the  footprints  of  CHRIST,  which  the  holy 
font  pledges  us  to — you  know  that  all  is  emptiness  and  vanity.  And  now.  if 
one  who  has  no  right  to  obtrude  his  thoughts  ujjon  you  but  the  right  that 
one  dying  fellow-being  has  to  say  to  another  who  has  bestowed  on  him  a 
kindness,  may,  without  offence,  ask  yoii  to  look  upon  that  font  and  all  it 
symbolizes  of  love  and  mercy  in  an  earnest  spirit,  that  seeks  a  divine  guide 
and  would  tind  rest  for  an  imprisoned  soul,  I  would  affectionately  whisper 
just  that  one  word  in  your  ear  to-day.  If  in  this  letter  there  is  anything 
that  you  would  have  erased,  Just  run  your  pen  across  it ;  and  for  the  font, 
and  the  feeling  that  dictated  the  gift,  all  so  unsolicited  and  unexpected  by 
me,  accept  mv  sincere  thanks. 

•'  Yours  truly,  "  WM.  PINKNEY. 

"  W.    W.    COKCOEAN,   ESCI." 

In  April  following-  of  this  same  year,  18G6,  Dr.  Pinkxey  sent  to 
Mr.  Corcoran  a  little  work,  the  title  of  which  is  not  know^n,  but 
from  the  tenor  of  his  letter  accompanying-  it,  it  is  sni^posed  to 
have  contained  a  very  clear  and  strong-  elucidation  of  Christian 
truth  and  of  the  sacred  ordinances  of  the  Church. 

Dr.  PiNKNEY  begs  his  careful  perusal  of  the  work.  His  letter 
is  as  follows : 

'-  April  Ti.  1S(){;. 

"  Will  my  much-esteemed  friend.  Mr.  Corcoran,  excuse  the  liljerty  I  have 
taken  of  asking  his  acceptance  of  a  little  work,  as  a  slight  token  of  friendship 
from  one  who  often  thinks  of  him,  and  covets  for  him,  in  the  midst  of  the 
muuiticent  gifts  of  Providence,  that  higher  gift  which  sanctities  and  sweetens 
the  rest?  It  is  written  with  wonderful  beauty  of  style,  and  illustrated  with 
the  most  attractive  imagery.  I  know  of  no  work  which  occupies  the  ground 
it  takes,  and  I  am  fully  persuaded  that,  in  those  calm,  quiet  moments,  when 
free  from  the  cares  of  "business  and  the  pleasure  of  the  social  cii-cle,  you  will 


152  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

find  its  perusal  an  intellectual  treat  and  a  great  practical  blessing.  It  is  not 
possible,  my  dear  sir,  for  any  of  us  to  lose  sight  of  the  stewardship  we  fill, 
or  of  the  vanity  of  everything  below  the  skies :  and,  although  it  may  seem 
to  be  presumptuous  in  one  who  is  so  full  of  infirmity  to  proffer  either  advice 
or  counsel  to  you,  there  is  that  in  the  office  I  bear  which  justifies  my  prof- 
fering to  you  a  book  so  full  of  touching  beauty  and  tenderness  rrf  appeal. 

"  "With  the  monuments  of  your  munificence  scattered  all  around  you  in  the 
beautiful  retreat  pro^-ided  for  those  who  know  nothing  of  the  pleasures  of 
the  homestead,  and  the  thousand  other  objects  you  have  patronized,  you 
must  still  feel  that  your  work  is  not  begun,  much  less  completed,  so  long  as 
the  gift  of  that  noblest  of  all  your  possessions — yourself — is  withheld  from 
GOD.  The  Scriptures  tell  us  of  those  who  gave  themselves  first,  and  then 
offered  up  their  memorial  of  prayers  and  alms  to  GOD  :  and  now,  my  dear 
sir,  is  the  accepted  time,  now  is  the  day  of  salvation — the  day  and  the  hour 
in  which  you  may  follow  their  bright  example. 

"If,  iu'thus  obtruding  upon  your  time  unasked,  I  should  seem  to  tran- 
scend the  privilege  of  a  friend  or  the  legitimate  province  of  a  minister  of 
Christ  who  is  only  your  fellow-sinner,  you  will,  I  am  sure,  in  respect  to  the 
motive,  overlook  "the  presvimption  of  the  act.  I  might  have  talked-  to  you 
face  to  face,  but  there  is  something  in  the  written  expression  of  the  feelings 
of  a  friend  which  remains  with  us.  and  appeals  to  us  more  powerfully  still. 
For  that  I  have  a  predilection.  All  that  I  ask  is  that  you  will  take  this  little 
work  and  give  it  a  thoughtful  and  prayerfiil  perusal.  Head  it  when  alone. 
It  is  full  of  unction  :  the  sweetest  spirit  pervades  it ;  it  speaks  right  home 
to  the  heart.  Its  beauty  of  style  and  richness  of  thought  will  command  the 
respect  of  your  intellect,  and  the  sifting  power  of  the  truth  it  inculcates,  and 
the  satisfactory  exposition  it  makes  of  the  great  scheme  of  redemption,  w'ill 
commend  it  to  the  heart.  The  world  you  have  '  weighed  in  the  balances,' 
and  I  am  sure  you  have  found  it  wanting.  The  other  world  is  near  at  hand. 
My  desire  is  to  see  you  in  earnest  preparation  for  it  in  the  use  of  the 
ajipointed  means  :  and  if  this  little  book,  which  is  offered  to  you  in  the  spirit 
of  unfeigned  humility  and  true  friendship,  shoiild  be  blessed  of  GOD  to  your 
assumption  of  the  vows  it  is  your  privilege  to  make  as  a  sinner  before  GOD, 
I  shall  be  devoutly  thankful.  It  is  as  '  bread  cast  upon  the  waters.'  Once 
more  I  miast  claim  your  indulgence,  and  close  by  signing  myself, 

"  Yours  truly, 

•'  W.  W.  CoECOHAN,  Esq.  '  WM.  PINKNEY." 

Towards  the  close  of  the  ensuing  year^ — that  is,  in  1867,  Mr. 
Corcoran  experienced  a  most  distressing  domestic  bereavement 
in  the  death  of  his  only  daughter,  Mrs.  Louise  Morris  Eustis,  wife 
of  Hon.  George  Eustis,  who  died  in  Cannes,  France,  on  the  4th 
of  December  in  that  year.  Dying  at  an  early  age,  before  reaching 
her  30th  year,  under  a  lingering  attack  of  consumption,  from 
which  relief  had  been  sought  by  temporary  residence  in  tbe  south 
of  France,  her  death  was  mourned  b}'^  a  very  large  cii'cle  of  friends 
and  acquaintances,  and  was  full  of  the  most  poignant  grief  to  the 
father.  Mr.  Corcoran  had  been  summoned  to  Cannes  by  the 
increasing  illness  of  his  daughter,  and  was  privileged  to  be 
with  her  during  the  closing  days  of  her  life. 

While  this  great  affliction  excited  profound  sympathy  and  grief 
on  the  part  of  Mr.  Corcoran's  many  friends,  there  was  no  oneAvho 
more  deeply  and  tenderly  felt  it  than  Dr.  Pinkney,  as  is  evidenced 
by  the  following  letter  of  condolence,  which  he  addi'essed  to  Mr. 


LIFE    OF    IJISHor    riNKNKV.  15;j 

Corcorau  in  Cannes  very  soon  after  the  intelli<ifence  of  the  deatli 
had  reached  him  : 

^^Eev.  Dr.  Pinkney  to  Mr.   11'.    IT.  Corcurdn. 

''December  23,  IBfw. 

"  My  Dear  Sir  :  I  was  ^'veutly  sliockt'd  iiiid  ^n-ievcd  to  heiir  of  the  dt'iith 
of  your  lamented  dauj,diter:  for,  although  I  had  only  heard  of  her  by  the 
hearing  of  the  ear,  I  felt  as  though  I  had  seen  the  loveliness  of  her  oharaeter, 
her  extreme  gentleness,  and  charming  unselfishness.  It  is  almost  an  intru- 
sion of  one  who  has  not  walked  through  the  liery  furnace  that  tries  you  to 
l)rofifer  words  of  comfort  or  offer  the  poverty  of  human  sympathy  ;  and  yet 
I  am  sure  you  will  not  desijise  this  poor  offering  from  one  of  the  least  valued 
of  your  many  friends. 

"  I  have  thoiight  of  you,  all  through  this  heart-rending  trial,  from  the  day 
yow.  left,  amid  the  gleamings  of  hope  and  the  dread  of  impending  ill,  to  this 
hour,  when  you  are  lonely  and  sad.  GOD  has  ordered,  in  His  mysterious  but 
all-wise  Providence,  that  you  who  have  so  often  wiped  the  tear  from  the  eye 
(jf  ori)hanage,  and  soothed  so  many  hearts  in  their  hour  of  distress  ])y  your 
munificent  gifts,  should  feel  the  bitterness  of  the  greatest  loss  that  could 
befall  you.  You  must  accept  it  as  His  app(;iiitment  :  and,  oh  I  with  the 
many  assurances  that  the  death  of  those  we  love  is  a  blessing  on  their  souls 
or  ours,  and  that  if  we  will  it,  these  light  afHictions  will  work  for  (jur  g<Jod, 
you  cannot  but  rejoice  to  believe  it  true.  Her  very  loveliness,  the  memory 
of  her  still  more  lovely  deeds  of  kindness  and  mercy  to  others,  her  strong 
hold  upon  the  heart  affection  of  all  who  knew  her,  give  you  comfort  in  this 
sad,  sad  hour.  You  know  that  to  make  her  happy,  and  strew  the  pathway  of 
her  young  life  with  flowers,  was  the  single  aim  and  oliject  of  your  life  :  and 
that  is  an  eloquent  soother  of  the  heart.  You  were  with  her,  and,  by  a 
thousand  loving  offices,  you  did  all  you  could  to  win  her  back  to  life  :  and 
that,  too,  is  a  source  of  sweetest  soothing.  There  is,  however,  one  s<mrce 
of  comfort — the  great,  the  only  sure  source — and  that  is  the  cross  of  Christ. 
There  is  one  feeling  above  all  the  wealth  of  the  chiefest  human  comfort, 
and  that  is,  that  the  sublime  belief  that  GOD  gives  our  loved  ones  sleep,  and 
that  He  waits  to  till  the  void  which  this  Providence  occasions.  That  cross 
is  accessible  to  you;  that  feeling  may  be  yours.  Shall  I  presume  too  much 
on  the  claims  of  friendship  if  I  venture  to  suggest  the  wisdom  of  casting 
your  care  on  Him  who  careth  for  you  V 

"  You  may  plant  one  flower  on  her  new-made  grave  which  will  adorn  it 
more  beautifully  than  the  costliest  nuu-ble  wroiight  by  the  most  cunning 
artisan,  and  that  is  the  flower  of  faith,  which  is  moistened  by  the  tear-drop 
of  patience  and  is  redolent  of  Heaven.  All  below  the  bending  l>lue  is 
vanitv  and  vexation  of  spirit,  and  voii  must  now  realize  it  in  its  full  force. 
None'  l)ut  GOD  can  fill  the  void.'  He  can,  if  the  jewel  of  faith  takes  the 
place  of  the  jewel  removed  from  the  golden  casket  of  the  heart.  The  tear 
may  gather  on  our  eyelid,  and  we  may  grow  weary  (jf  watching  for  the 
returning  footsteps  of  a  loved  one  gone  from  us  which  shall  nevermore  echo 
on  our  eager  ear,  but  faith  gives  us  back  our  dead  and  reconciles  us  to  our 
lot.  This  is  not  cold  philosophy,  the  counselling  of  an  unfeeling  stoicism. 
Oh,  no!  It  is  the  sublimest  philosophy:  the  very  prompting  of  keenest, 
truest  sensibility.  It  is  GOD'S  own  voice  to  us,  '  Come  unto  Me,  all  ye 
that  are  weary  and  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest : '  '  Cast  your  care 
on  Me,  for  I  care  tor  you.' 

•'You  may,  perhaps,  think  it  strange  that  my  thoughts  are  turned  to  you  ; 
but  it  is  not  strange.  I  have  seen  the  granite*  of  your  character  tested  and 
proved,  and,  in  sweetest  i)roximity  with  it,  I  have  seen  the  heart  touched  by 
the  sorrows  you  could  not  ward  off  :  and  that  alone  has  nnide  me  feel  that  in 


154  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   PINKNEY. 

this  (lark  hour,  whik'  the  memory  of  the  loved  one  departed  is  so  fresh.  1 
should  like  to  say,  if  I  may  do  so  without  ol)trusiou,  that  I  mcjst  deeply 
sympathize  with  you  in  your  great  sorrow. 
"  Yoiirs  truly, 

••  W.    PINKNEY." 

The  remains  of  Mrs.  Louise  Morris  Eustis  were  subsequently 
brought  to  this  cotmtry,  and  on  the  17th  of  February,  1868,  the 
funeral  solemnities,  attended  by  a  large  concourse  of  sympathiz- 
ing- friends,  were  conducted  by  the  Kev.  Dr.  Pinkney  in  the  Cor- 
coran mansion,  who  delivered  a  very  impressive  and  appropriate 
addi'ess  on  the  occasion,  from  which  the  following  extract  is 
taken : 

''From  what  I  have  seen  of  letters  descriptive  of  the  close  of  her  fair  young 
life,  I  am  satisfied  that  her  thoughts  had  been  much  exercised  about  the 
fiiture  of  the  state  beyond  us  :  for  such  a  death  scene  could  not  have  crowned 
any  but  a  prayerful  life.  When  told  that  her  end  was  near,  while  she  clung 
to  home  and  home  endearments  with  all  the  instincts  of  her  loving  nature, 
she  received  the  communion,  gave  her  parting  counsels  to  all  ai'ound  her, 
and  sent  her  farewell  greetings  to  loved  ones  absent,  with  an  eloquence  that 
no  words  of  mine  can  portray.  With  the  father  on  one  side  of  her  and  her 
husband  on  the  other,  shfe  fell  asleep,  while  the  kiss  of  love  was  still  fresh, 
and  the  last  heart-throb  told  how  deep  and  true  that  love  was.  Beloved, 
you  knew  her  better  than  I  did.  You  knew  her,  many  of  you,  in  the  bright, 
sunny  hour  of  childhood,  the  dawn  of  early  womanhood,  the  blossoming  of 
riper  years :  and  you  know  that  this  is  no  highly-colored  portraiture.  A 
vision  of  loveliness  '.  she  lingered  for  a  little  while  on  this  earth,  and  then 
faded  away,  like  the  glow  of  the  golden  sky  w'hen  night  is  upon  us." 

"  The  remains,"  as  stated  in  one  of  the  printed  accounts  of  the 
funeral,  "were  taken  to  Oak  Hill  Cemetery,  Georgetown,  and 
placed  in  the  mausoleum.  The  funeral  cortege  was  one  of  the 
largest  ever  seen  in  Washington.  Every  rank  in  our  society  was 
represented  on  this  mournful  occasion.  The  Diplomatic  Corps, 
the  Aa-my.  Navy,  Executive  Departments,  Corporate  Authorities, 
and  citizens  gathered  to  testify  their  regard  to  one  so  universally 
esteemed  in  this  his  hour  of  affliction." 

Oak  Hill,  upon  the  heights  of  Georgetown,  stands  unrivalled 
among  suburban  cemeteries  for  its  natural  beauty  and  the  density 
of  the  line  forest  oaks  that  adorn  the  hillsides  of  its  varied  and 
extensive  grounds.  It  is  thus  described  iu  one  of  the  issues  of 
the  2^atlonal  Intelligence)'  of  Washington  city : 

' '  The  grand  and  delightful  location  of  Oak  Hill  on  the  heights  of  George- 
town, commanding  a  full  and  splendid  view  of  the  National  Capital,  of  the 
Potomac  for  many  miles,  and  a  wide  and  picturesque  view  of  the  country 
in  every  direction,  cannot  be  described:  and  the  bold,  beautiful,  diversi- 
fied conformations  of  the  grounds,  sloping,  with  their  riigged  oiitlines,  down- 
wards to  the  miiruiuring  stream,  iind  shadowed  with  magnificent  primitive 
forest  trees,  complete  the  natural  charms  of  the  hallowed  spot  where  the 
high  and  holy  sentiment  of  death,  with  so  much  taste  and  tenderness,  is 
consecrating  its  symbols,  guarding  its  relics,  and  keeping  fresh  and  sacred 
its  memories. 


LIFE    OF    lilSllol-    I'INKNKV.  155 

"This  •  densely  w.Hidi'd  tract  nf  liiiid '  wiis  imn-lmsi'd  liy  Mr.  \V.  \V. 
CoreoiiUi  ill  1N47.  uiid  donated  l)y  liim  to  bis  native  city  of  Gi-ur^ji-town^'  a 
lasting'  nionuiiieiit  of  his  wide  heiietieence.'  The  amount  expended  by  Mr. 
Corcoran  upon  its  improvements  '  exceeded  the  sum  of  one  liumlred  and 
twenty  thousand  doUars.' 

"  By  far  the  <,'raii(h'st  specimen  of  chissical  monumentid  art  in  the 
grounds  is  the  octaiioual  doric  tempU'  of  white  marhh-  standini,'  uiion  a 
conspicuous  eminence,  and  surmountiu}:;  the  family  vault  of  William  W. 
Corctjran." 

It  was  iie.ar  this  structure  tliat,  tifteeu  years  later,  at  tlie  close 
of  his  Episcopate,  Dr.  Pinkney,  then  Bishop  of  Marylaiul.  found 
his  own  restino--place  and  that  of  his  lieloved  wife,  under  a  costly 
find  beautiful  monument  erected  hy  the  munificence  of  Mr.  Cor- 
coran to  the  memory  of  his  much  loved  and  revered  friend. 

In  this  connection  it  may  be  })roper  to  state  that  soon  after  the 
death  of  Mrs.  Louise  ]\Iorris  Eustis,  liis  only  child,  ]\Ir.  Corcorau 
formed  the  purpose  of  founding-,  establishing,  and  endowing  one 
of  the  noblest  benevolent  institutions  in  this  country,  to  be  desig- 
nated "  The  Louise  Home."  Upon  spacious  lots,  in  an  elevated 
pai't  of  the  city,  surrounded  with  costly  private  residences,  Mr. 
Corcoran  caused  to  be  erected  a  large  and  noble  building,  archi- 
tectural in  its  structure,  spacious  in  its  accommodations,  and 
complete  in  all  its  provisions  and  arrangements  for  tlie  comfort- 
able maintenance  and  suj^port  of  a  *'  necessarily  limited  ninul)er  "" 
of  necessitous  ladies  of  "  education  and  retinement,"  who,  under 
certain  conditions,  were  to  be  admitted  as  the  beneticiaries  of  the 
institution. 

To  the  construction  of  the  bviilding  in  all  its  parts  and  details 
Mr.  Corcoran  gave  his  own  special  supervision.  He  prepared 
with  great  care  and  remarkable  wisdom  and  caution  all  the  pro- 
visions for  its  future  management,  which  he  condensed  in  the 
deed  or  charter  which  he  executed  when  passing  the  control  of 
the  institution  into  the  hands  of  a  board  of  trustees  and  of  cer- 
tain lady  "  directresses."  He  provided,  also,  an  ample  and 
adecjuate  endowment  for  the  permanent  support  of  the  institu- 
tion. 

The  work  was  completed  and  delivered  by  Mr.  Corcoran  into 
the  hands  of  trustees  designated  and  appointed  by  himself  in  a 
deed  bearing  date  December  4,  1870.  The  following  extracts 
from  that  deed  will  sufficiently  explain,  for  the  purposes  of  this 
narrative,  the  nature  and  })urposes  of  the  institution : 

•  •  F'liirthly.  The  trust  hereby  created  is  hereby  declared,  aud  expressly  lim- 
ited to  1  )e,  the  founding,  and  perpetually  keeping  up',  and  supporting,  and  mau- 
agement  of  an  institution  to  be  used  exclusively  for  the  comfortable  mainte- 
nance and  support  (not  including  the  furnishing  of  wearing  apparel )  of  as  many 
such  destitute,  but  refined  and" educated,  gentlewomen  as  aforesaid,  a,s  the 
buildings,  improvements,  resources,  and  circumstances  of  the  trust  may,  from 
time  totime,  suitably  accommodate,  of  which  the  directresses,  or  any  seven 
of  them,  with  the  coiiciirreuce  of  the  founder,  the  said  William  W.  Corcoran, 


156  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

-during  the  period  of  his  uatural  life,  shall  determine :  such  determination 
and  concurrence  to  be,  as  often  as  necessary,  expressed  upon  the  record.  And 
the  ladies,  directresses,  hereinafter  referred  to.  or  any  seven  of  them,  with 
the  consent  of  the  said  trustees,  and  with  the  like  concurrence  of  the 
founder,  during  his  lifetime,  shall  designate,  from  time  to  time,  the  persons 
who  shall  have  admission  to  the  establishment  as  inmates,  and  may,  from 
time  to  time,  in  like  manner,  for  sufficient  cause  in  their  judgment,  expel  any 
inmate  or  inmates. 

•'  Fifthly.  The  said  institution  shall  always  be  known  by  the  name  of 
The  Louise  Home. 

"Sixthly.  There  shall  be  no  discrimination  or  distinction  on  accotmt  of 
religious  creed  or  sectarian  opinions,  in  respect  of  the  trustees,  directresses, 
officers,  or  inmates,  of  the  said  establishment :  but  all  proper  facilities  that 
may  be  possible,  in  the  judgment  of  the  trustees,  shall  be  allowed  and  fur- 
nished to  the  inmates  for  the  worship  of  Almighty  GOD,  according  to  each 
one's  conscientious  belief." 

The  title  of  the  mstitution,  with  the  names  of  the  trustees  and 
lady  dii-ectresses  apjjointed  by  Mr.  Corcoran,  is  as  follows : 

"  The  Louise  Home." 
Founded  by 

W.    W.    COKCOEAN. 

Erected  in  1869, 

And  opened  for  the  reception  of  inmates 

April  17,  1871. 

"  Non  igiiarus  mail,  miseris  succurrese  disco.''^ 

Tbustees : 
James  M.  Caklisle,  of  Washington,  D.  C. 
George  W.  Riggs,  of  Washington,  D.  C. 
James  C.  Hall,  M.  D.,  of  Washington,  D.  C. 
Anthony  Hyde,  of  Georgetown,  D.  C. 

Dieecteesses : 
Mrs.  B.  Ogle  Tayloe,  of  Washington,  D.  C. 
Mrs.  George  W.  Eiggs,  of  Washington,  D.  C. 
Miss  Sarah  Coleman,  of  Washington,  D.  C. 
Mrs.  Eichard  Coolidge,  of  Washington,  D.  C, 
Mrs.  James  M.  Carlisle,  of  Washington,  D.  C. 
Mrs.  John  Marbury,  Sen.,  of  Georgetown,  D.  C. 
Mrs.  Eichard  T.  Merrick,  of  Washington,  D.  C. 
Mrs.  S.  P.  Hill,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Mrs.  Beverly  Kennon,  Georgetown,  D.  C. 

In  the  month  of  March,  1868,  Dr.  Pinkney  had  the  great  satis- 
faction of  receiving  Mr.  Corcoran  into  the  Church  by  the  Sacra- 
ment of  Holy  Baptism.  The  fact  and  the  circumstances  of  the 
bajitism  are  only  so  far  known  as  they  are  disclosed  in  the  letter 
which  Dr.  Pinkn5;y  WTote  after  the  baptism. 

To  a  mind  so  clear  and  strong  as  Mr.  Corcoran's,  with  a  judg- 
ment of  men  and  things  most  wise  and  practical,  and  with  a  heart 
alive  to  the  generous  impulses  of  humanity,  it  only  needed  that 
religion  should  be  seen  and  felt  as  a  sjiu-itual  power  from  GOD 


d 


xJFE   OF   BISHOP   PINKNEY.  lo7 

to  meet  the  needs  of  niaii'K  life  aiul  Kecure  for  his  iiumortal  bouI 
the  blessedness  of  the  life  eternal.  Under  the  marked  and  varicfl 
experiences  throuyli  which  he  had  passed  — on  the  one  hand  j^^reat 
prosperity  in  his  worldly  affairs  and  on  the  other  sore  bereayements 
in  the  early  deaths  of  his  wife  and  only  child — he  may  liave  l)een 
gradually  led  to  see  that  those  needs  were  met  and  that  l)lesse(h 
ness  secured  in  the  Gospel  and  Church  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
Coming,  proyidentially.  into  touch  Ayith  a  spirit  and  character  like 
Dr.  Pinkney's  he  was  not  long  in  determining  to  become  a  follower 
of  Christ  in  the  communion  of  the  Church. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  day  of  his  baptism  Dr.  Pinkxey  writes 
to  Mr.  Corcoran  as  follows  : 

"  Washington,  March  29,  1868. 

"  My  Dear  Mr.  Corcoran  :  There  was  miicli  in  the  atteiulant  cirfuin- 
stances  of  your  baptism,  apart  from  its  own  intrinsie  beauty  and  importance, 
which  touched  me  deeply,  and  caused  my  lip  to  (piiver  in  the  act  of  the 
celebration.* 

"  I  mingled  the  waters  of  the  Jordan  with  the  water  ali-eady  prepared,  so 
that  the  brilliant  scenes  enacted  in  that  most  interesting  of  the  waters  of 
old  were  brought  into  almost  actual  contact  with  the  grandest  event  of  your 
life ;  that  which  brings  you  into  the  household  and  family  of  GOD.  A 
Syrian  lejjcr  was  cleansed  in  Jordan ;  the  children  passed  over  it  when  it 
flowed  back  at  the  command  of  the  LOliD  ;  CHRIST  was  himself  baptized 
in  it ;  and  in  all  these  respects  there  is  a  touching  and  beaTitiful  significance 
in  the  use  of  its  waters  in  the  sacrament  I  administered  to-day.  The  font 
was  your  own  munificent  gift,  unasked  for  and  uuexjiected.  GOD  took  the- 
flower  you  had  so  carefully  watered  and  blessed  from  your  bosom  just  as 
it  was  shedding  the  aroma  of  its  sweetness  over  your  declining  years,  and 
transplanted  it  to  softer  skies  and  a  more  congenial  climate.  You  gave  Him, 
to-day,  the  flower  of  yoiu'  heart,  which  the  cold  winds  of  adversity  had  beat 
upon,  biit  which  had,  of  late  years,  blossomed  in  abundance  and  plenty; 
and  you  gave  it  to  Him  when  He  caused  one  deep  shadow  to  creep  over  it, 
and  thus  you  consecrated  the  touch  of  the  Fatherly  Hand  that  afflicted  you 
for  your  good. 

"It  is  a  signal  mercy  of  GOD  that  the  freshness  of  your  heart  was  not 
lost  in  the  glare  and  glitter  of  a  worldly  prosperity  which  few  have  wit- 
nessed ;  and  now,  my  dear  brother,  that  the  waters  of  Jordan  have  1>een 
poured  on  your  head,  and  the  new  birth  of  water  and  the  Spirit  is  vouchsafed 
to  you,  and  you  share  in  the  army  of  the  saints  right  under  the  blood- 
stained banner  of  the  cross,  and  have  proclaimed  jjublicly  that  you  are  not 
ashamed  of  Christ,  and  have  professed  Him  before  men,  you  may  walk 
with  assured  steps  to  the  water's  edge  of  that  other  Jordan,  satisfied  that 
He  will  conduct  you  over  in  safety  who  has  blessed  the  font  and  made  it 
the  laver  of  regeneration  for  us. 

"  There  is  something  very  touching  in  one  of  the  incidents  mentioned  in 
the  second  lesson  of  the  day  which,  it  strikes  me,  we  may  regard  as  provi- 
dential, which,  perhaps,  neither  you  nor  I  thought  of  when  we  fixed  upon 
this  day  as  the  time.  It  is  that  Christ  went  out  at  night,  and  abode  in 
the  Mount  of  Olives.  He  went  there  to  meditate  and  pray.  The  world  is 
dark  ;  fiery  trials  await  us  ;  the  battle  rages  ;  the  powers  of  evil  are  trouping 
around  us  ;  the  evil  within  us  is  intensely  active ;  the  cares  of  this  wt)rld 
multiply  themselves.  To-day  you  have  enlisted  as  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus 
Christ.  The  font  yoia  gave'  us,  of  solid  marble,  with  the  cross  moulded 
on,  or  rather  carved  out  of  it,  the  befitting  sign  of  our  profession,  is  now 


158  LIFE    OF    mSHOP    riNKNEY. 

consecrated  in  yonr  own  Ijaptism.  On  the  canvas  one  picture  meets  qui 
view.  It  is  surijassiug  beaiitiful.  It  is  Christ  going  up  to  the  M(junt  of 
Olives,  and  dwelling  there  all  through  the  hours  of  the  night,  praying  for 
us.  As  He  ascended  from  that  self-same  Mount,  and  took  possession  of  the 
Heaven  for  us.  so  He  prays  for  us  still :  and  on  that  prayer  of  intercession 
all  our  hopes  of  Heaven  depend.  It  is  something  remarkable  that  in  the 
same  second  lesson  (providentially,  as  I  believej,  you  are  reminded  of  the 
necessity  of  taking  heed,  watching  unto  jjrayer.  With  this  injunction  the 
scene  closes. 

"  Drawn  to  you  before  you  had,  in  any  way,  identified  yourself  with  my 
poor  ministry,  by  the  moral  bravery  I  had  witnessed,  the  large-hearted 
charity  of  your  life,  your  dignity  and  devotion  to  principle  at  a  time  when 
time-serving  is  so  popular,  I  tho\;ght  of  you  with  a  perfectly  disinterested 
feeling,  sent  you  a  loving  message  when  God  took  from  yoii  the  joy  of  your 
life,  paid  my  humble  tribute  to  her  worth  in  death  :  and  now,  with  a  feeling 
of  like  disinterestedness,  I  offer  you  the  greeting  of  a  poor  fellow-sinner,  and 
hope  that  no  cloud  may  ever  darken  the  sunshine  of  our  friendship,  and  no 
other  feeling  ever  mingle  in  the  future  of  our  relationship  l)ut  the  sense  of  a 
cross  that  presses  on  us  equally. 

"  Y()i;r  friend, 

"W.  PII?KNEY." 

The  friendship  thus  formed  between  Mr.  Corcoran  and  Dr. 
PiNKNEY  became  more  strongly  cemented  as  years  passed :  and 
when,  at  a  subsequent  period,  the  enterprise  of  erecting  a 
new  church  for  the  parish  and  congregation  of  the  Ascension 
was  entered  upon,  Mr.  Corcoran,  as  we  shall  see,  proved  himself 
to  be  a  most  valuable  helper  and  benefactor  in  consummating  that 
costly  and  important  work,  contributing  towards  it  more  than 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

These  cu'cumstances  led  not  only  to  a  most  genial  and  affec- 
tionate intercourse  between  Mr.  Corcoran  and  Dr.  Pinkney  as  his 
pastor  and  afterwards  Bishop  of  the  Diocese,  but,  on  Dr.  Pink- 
:ney's  part,  to  a  frec[uent  and  very  pleasant  correspondence.  The 
letters  of  Dr.  Pixkney  were  highly  prized  by  Mr.  Corcoran  and 
were  carefully  filed  in  a  blank-book  kept  specially  for  the  purpose. 
The  letters  written  prior  to  1878  were  incorjjorated.  among  other 
valuable  letters  which  Mr.  Corcoran  had  received,  in  a  volume 
entitled  "  A  Grandfather's  Legacy,"  which  he  caused  to  be 
printed  in  1879,  a  few  years  before  his  death.  Some  of  those 
lettei's  are  transferred  to  this  work.  Others,  not  so  printed,  are 
introduced  in  their  places  in  this  biography. 

Mr.  Corcoran  continued  his  connection  with  the  parish  of  the 
Ascension  for  nearly  three  years  after  Bishop  Pinkney's  decease, 
when,  owing  to  certain  troubles  in  the  vestry  and  parish,  he  re- 
signed his  position  as  vestryman  and  ceased  to  be  an  attendant 
upon  the  ministrations  of  the  Ascension. 

The  death  of  John  Henry  Alexander,  LL.  D.,  on  the  2d  of 
March,  1867,  was  a  great  personal  loss  and  grief  to  Dr.  Pinkney. 
They  had  been  boys  together  in  their  joint  studies  in  the  class- 
room and  in  their  sports  on  the  college  green,  and  their  jjarents' 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNKY.  1")'.) 

families  were  intimately  associated.  Tlicy  luul  ;^nii(Iii;il((l  lo- 
^•ether  in  the  class  of  1H27,  and  ever  afterwards  they  kcjit  u]i  a 
frequent  correspondence  and  were  accustomed  to  intcrcliau^''*' 
visits  at  tlieir  homes.  Dr.  Alexander,  as  has  been  stated,  was  a 
man  of  rare  intellectual  gifts  and  of  varied  accomi)lishments  in 
learning,  science,  history,  poetry,  and  the  arts.  His  whole  life 
beautifully  illustrated  the  virtues  and  piety  of  a  devoted  Chi'is- 
tian  and  an  earnest  Churchman. 

In  one  of  those  New  Year  letters  Dr.  Pinkney  was  accustomed 
to  send  to  this  friend,  he  refers  to  the  strong-,  early,  and  endur- 
mg  aftection  that  existed  between  them.     He  writes,  January  4  : 

"  If  not  too  late  I  would  offer  luy  friend  of  many  years  the  congratulations 
of  the  season,  and  express  the  hope  that  he  and  his  may  be  lony  spared  to 
each  other.  On  such  occasions  my  thoughts  turn  to  the  past,  the  golden 
past,  when  beauty  was  on  every  flower  and  freshness  in  every  breeze. 
Things  are  sadly  changed.  The  habits  and  customs  of  men  lack  the  delicate 
refinement  that  your  sister  and  I  so  miich  admired,  and  you  and  I  so  much 
-enjoyed.  It  has  been  a  gratification  to  me  that  the  earliest  of  my  friendships 
is  still  the  strongest,  and  that  nothing  has  intervened  to  check  the  flow  of 
heart  or  poison  its  waters.  I  seem  scarcely  to  have  touched  the  earth,  and 
yet  my  days  are  posting  on  with  a  rapidity  that  startles  me.  My  life  lias  not 
been  an  idle  one,  and  yet  when  I  see  the  fruits  of  others  I  can  scarcely  tell 
what  I  have  been  about.  You  have  much  to  refi'esh  you  in  the  retrospect. 
althoiigh  the  age  has  not  had  the  grace  to  appreciate  fully  your  i)rodigious 
learning  and  noble  worth." 

In  one  of  his  earlier  letters  to  Dr.  Alexander,  Dr.  Pinkney  re- 
ferred to  the  high  estimate  in  which  his  friend  was  held  by  Bishop 
Whittingham.     He  thus  wrote  : 

"  The  Bisho])  holds  you  in  highest  estimation,  and  for  that  I  love  him  the 
more.  He  told  me  that  he  dared  not  trust  himself  to  visit  Alexander  as  often 
as  he  wished,  because  he  could  not  force  himself  away  in  jiroper  season.  He 
spoke  in  highest  terms  of  your  scholarship  and  attainments,  and  I  felt  happy 
and  proud  in  hearing  you  thus  jjraised  and  aj>preciated  by  one  who  is  too 
good  to  flatter  and  too  intellectual  to  be  mistaken  in  his  judgment.  You 
will  not,  I  know,  suffer  this  to  interfere  with  yoiir  accustomed  serenity,  or 
any  otherwise  affect  you  than  as  a  stimulus  to  still  higher  excellence  of  heart 
and  mind." 

Nor  did  Bishop  Whittingham  fail  in  his  addi-ess  at  the  conven- 
tion succeeding-  Dr.  Alexander's  death  to  speak  in  strong  and  lov- 
ing terms  of  one  who  as  a  layman  had  been  so  prominent  in  the 
councils  and  service  of  the  Church,  and  was  so  eminent  for  his 
learning-  and  piety. 

Frequently  on  matters  of  personal  interest,  and  in  reference  to 
literary  and  theological  studies,  Chvirch  affairs  and  movements, 
diocesan  and  general,  and  always  when  issuing-  pul)lications  from 
the  press,  Dr.  Pinkney  was  accustomed  to  consult  with  this  friend, 
knowing  with  what  a  generous  spirit  and  with  what  cxcjuisite 
taste,  correct  judgment,  and  ripe  scholarship  Dr.  Alexander  could 
give  counsel  and  suggestions. 


160  LIFE    OF    BISHOr    TINKNEY. 

The  loss  to  liim  of  such  a  friend  was  u-reparable — felt  the  more- 
keenly  and  severely  when  the  responsibilities  of  the  Episcopate 
devolved  upon  him. 

Soon  after  the  decease  Dr.  Pinkney  was  invited  by  the  Mai-y- 
land  Historical  Society,  in  Baltimore,  to  deliver,  before  the  body,, 
a  discom-se  upon  the  life  and  character  of  Dr.  Alexander.  With 
this  request  Dr.  Pinkney  complied,  and  the  discourse  was  after- 
wards pubhshed  by  the  society. 

The  following-  letter  to  his  friend.  Judge  Huntington,  refers  to 
the  cu'cumstances  : 

"  Dr.  Pinkney  to  Judge  Huntington. 

''  Washington,  May  4,  1867. 

"  DE.4.E  Judge  :  I  pronounced  my  eulogy  on  the  evening  of  the  second,  and 
have  every  reason  to  be  gratified  with  its  reception.  It  took  me  about  one 
hour  and  ten  minutes.  I  had  many  misgivings  about  it  and  was  very  fearful 
that  I  assumed  a  task  above  my  ability.  Judge  Giles  was  the  first  to  express 
his  approbation,  which  he  did  in  a  resolution  of  thanks  in  a  way  that  really 
surprised  me.  Brantz  Mayer,  the  ^jresident,  one  of  our  most  accomplished 
scholars  and  writers,  arose  and  asked  the  privilege  to  express  a  wish  that  a 
motion  would  be  made  for  its  publication  ;  and  the  terms  he  employed  in 
the  expression  of  his  delight  were  so  strong  that  I  felt  a  good  deal  embar- 
rassed. He  afterwards,  privately,  came  up  to  me  and  repeated  with  the 
utmost  frankness  all  he  had  said  publicly.  Dr.  Cohen,  a  Jew,  and  one  of 
Alexander's  most  intimate  and  accomi^lished  friends,  did  the  same. 

"  In  the  cars  the  next  morning,  a  gentleman  approached  me,  who  was  a 
member  of  the  society,  and  who  told  me  he  was  there  as  a  critic,  not  know- 
ing either  Dr.  Alexander  or  myself,  and  as  such  pronounced  his  commenda- 
tions in  the  strongest  possible  terms.  Everybody  but  Dr.  A.  had  a  kind 
word  to  say.  Dr.  E.  was  not  present,  nor  was  there  a  single  clergyman  of 
oiir  Church  present  save  Dr.  A. 

"  Now  you  will  not  understand  me  as  thinking  any  the  less  humbly  of  the 
effort.  I  onlj-  mention  it  because  on  Alexander's  account ;  I  know  you  will  re- 
joice that  what  I  meant  in  love  for  his  memory  was  so  fully  and  so  strongly 
endorsed.  I  shall  have  it  copied  and  sent  to  Baltimore  to  be  printed.  It  is 
the  society's  property,  and  I  only  yield  it  up  to  them  at  their  unanimous 
wish.  I  know  it  is  far  below  what  it  should  be,  and  the  praise  of  such  men 
as  Judge  Giles  and  Brantz  Mayer,  both  of  whom  were  strangers  to  me,  does 
not  blind  me  to  its  defects.  Affectionately, 

"  Hon.  S.  H.  Huntington.  W.  P." 

It  was  a  beautiful  and  noble  tribute  rendered  by  Dr.  Pinkney 
to  the  character  and  memory  of  his  beloved  friend.  In  this  con- 
nection it  may  also  be  mentioned  that  a  like  just  and  commen- 
datory tril)ute  was  paid  to  the  memory  of  Dr.  Alexander  in  an  Ttv 
Metnorlam  J^aper  read  before  the  Alumni  of  St.  John's  College 
by  the  late  John  G.  Proud,  Jr.,  an  alumnus. 


I 


LIFE   OF    BISHOP    MNKNEY.  I  til 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Visit  to  Europe.     180',). 

In  the  spring  of  18G9  there  was  a  movement  on  the  part  of 
the  parishioners  to  induce  Dr.  Pixkney  to  seek  some  rest  from 
parochial  work,  and  go  abroad  for  rehixation.  His  health  had 
not  at  all  failed ;  but  it  was  felt  by  his  many  friends  that  he 
ought  to  have  recreation.  Averse  as  he  was  to  leaving  his  parish 
and  home  for  any  long  and  distant  travel,  he  was  at  last  per- 
suaded to  yield  to  the  solicitation  that  he  should  make  a  visit  to 
England  and  the  continent  of  Europe.  He  had  never  been 
abroad.  Filial  duty,  during  the  life  of  his  mother,  called  him 
at  intervals  to  the  old  homestead  in  Annapolis,  and  when  his 
brother  was  off  duty  from  service  at  sea,  he  occasionally  visited 
him  at  his  beautiful  home  near  Easton,  Talbot  county,  and  while 
there  was  sure  to  make  brief  \-isits  to  his  wife's  relatives  on 
Miles  and  Wye  rivers.  But  beyond  these,  and  some  occasional 
short  absences  in  Virginia  and  New  England,  and  his  attendance 
as  delegate  at  the  General  Conventions,  he  had  never  been  away 
from  his  parish. 

There  was  no  difficulty  in  raising  the  sufficient  funds  for  the 
purpose.  His  vestry  held  a  meeting  to  give  unsolicited  leave  of 
absence  for  an  indefinite  period,  with  provision  that  his  salary 
should  go  on  during  his  absence,  and  the  further  provision  that 
the  vestry  would  meet  all  expenses  for  filling  his  place  until  he 
should  return. 

The  following  letter  contains  their  action  : 

"Ascension  Parish, 
"  Washington,  D.  C,  Mni/  28,  1809. 

"  The  vestry  of  Asceusiou  parish,  this  day  assembled  at  a  special  lueetiujf 
called  by  the  register,  remembering  the  faithful  services  of  their  beloved, 
rector  for  more  thaa  twelve  years  past,  during  which  time  he  has  been 
unceasing  in  the  care  of  his  flock,  and  in  the  works  of  labor  and  i>f  love, 
V)elieve  that  a  period  of  rest  and  relaxation  from  the  care  of  his  parish  would 
be  beneficial,  if  it  shall  please  him  to  accept  it,  consider  it  only  a  partial 
manifestation  of  their  affectionate  regard  to  tender  him  leave  <>f  absence  in 
order  to  seek  such  relaxation,  and  they  therefore  liexalee,  that  the  vestry 
grant  to  the  Rev.  William  Pinkney,  D.  D.,  leave  of  absence  for  such  time 
as  he  may  desire,  that  his  salary  be  continued  during  such  absence,  and  that 
the  salary  of  such  person  or  persons  as  he  may  select  to  occupy  his  place 
until  his  return  be  paid  by  the  vestry. 

"  On  motion,  Resolved,  that  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  preamble  and  resolu- 
tion be  furnished  to  Dr.  Pinkney. 

"  The  following  are  the  members  present  at  the  adoption  of  the  above : 

••N.  W.  Burchell,  J.  T.  Stevens,  Henrv  S.  Davis.  R.  W.  Burgess,  W.  M. 
Shuster,  W.  W.  Corcoran,  J.  B.  Dodson,  "C.  B.  Baker. 

>-.J.  M.  DUNCANHON, 


162  LIFE    OF   BISHOr    PINKNEY. 

Diu'mg  the  absence  in  Europe  the  parish,  under  an  arrange- 
ment by  the  vestry,  was  hai)pily  supplied  with  pulpit  ministrations 
and  pastoral  serA-ice  by  the  Rev.  "William  S.  Southgate,  the 
present  rector  of  St.  Anne's  parish.  Annapolis. 

Letters  of  introduction  were  secured  from  a  number  of  prom- 
inent persons  in  Washington  and  Maryland :  and  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Bishop  Whittingham  supplied  him  with  testimonials  as  follows : 

*'To  the  Right  Reverend  the  BiKhop  of  any  Diocese  in  England  or  Ireland, 

Greeting : 

'•  We  do  certify  you  by  this  testimoiiial.  given  iiuderour  liaud  and  Eiiisco- 
pal  seal,  that  the  bearer,  the  Eeverend  William  Pinkney,  D.  D.,  is  a  presby- 
ter of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  and 
is  a  person  of  honest  life  and  godly  conversation  and  prof esseth  the  doctrines 
•of  the  United  Clmrch  of  England  and  Ireland. 

[seal.]  ••  WILLIAM  KOLLINSON  WHITTINGHAM. 

'•Bixho])  of  Maryland. 

"Baltimobe,  U.  S.  a.,  July  12.  1869." 

* '  To  whom  it  may  concern : 

"This  is  to  certify  that  the  Eev.  William  Pinkuey,  D.  D.,  rector  of  the 
parish  of  the  Ascension,  in  the  city  of  Washington,  District  of  Columbia, 
and  president  of  the  standing  committee  of  the  Diocese  of  Maryland,  being 
ot  good  and  unblemished  personal  and  official  character  and  standing,  travels 
&t  this  time  with  the  full  approbation  and  consent  of  his  Diocesan. 

£sEAL,]  "WILLIAM  ROLLINSON  WHITTINGHAM, 

'•Bixhop  of  Maryland. 

"  Given  at  Baltimore,  Maryland,  U.  S.  A.,  this  12th  day  of  July,  A.  D.  1809." 

Happily  this  European  trip  was  to  be  made  in  company  with 
his  brother,  Surgeon  Ninian  Pinkney,  who.  as  an  officer  of  the 
Navy,  had  been  with  the  United  States  squadi'ons  in  all  parts  of 
the  world.  He  was  a  most  entertaining  companion,  full  of  wit 
and  humor,  with  a  keen  observation  of  men  and  things,  alwaj's 
knowing  what  to  do  and  where  to  go  for  instruction  and  jDleasure 
and  travel.  The  two  brothers,  however,  were  not  always  together  : 
for  the  surgeon  was  going  abroad  in  an  official  capacity  to  repre- 
sent the  United  States  in  certain  medical  conferences  to  be  held 
in  England  and  on  the  Continent.  But  they  contrived  to  arrange 
their-  movements  so  as  to  be  with  each  other  in  many  noted  and 
important  places.  This  association  with  his  brother  was  also 
incidentally  of  advantage,  as  it  led  to  the  formation  of  very  pleas- 
ant actpiaintance  with  some  distinguished  members  of  the  medical 
2)rofession  in  England,  by  whom  hosi)italities  were  extended  to 
the  two  brothers.  His  letters  of  introduction  seciu-ed  for  him 
special  attentions  from  a  number  of  prominent  persons. 

His  travel  was  every  way  enjoyable,  and  tended  greatly  to 
enlarge  his  conceptions  and  views  as  to  the  position  and  quick- 
ened life  of  the  Church  in  England  and  as  to  the  government  and 
institutions  of  the  British  Empire.  His  visit  to  England  being 
.simply  for  recreation,  without  official  character  or  jjurpose,  he 


LIFE    OF    lilSllor    I'lNKNKV.  Hui 

did  not  seek  to  j^ather  any  data  respeciiii'^-  tlie  varied  iiiKtrumen- 
talities  of  Church  work  and  benevolent  enterprises  carried  on  in 
the  Church  of  England.  He  was  a  careful  observer,  however,  of 
such  things  as  naturall}'  came  before  him  in  his  nsits  to  the 
ditt'erent  churches  and  to  the  homes  of  tliose  clei-^i^ynicn  and  lay- 
men to  which  he  Avas  cordially  invited. 

He  provided  himself  with  a  journal,  to  be  kept  in  diary  form  :  and 
he  minutely  recorded  the  incidents  of  the  sea  voyaj.,-'*',  descrilx'd 
very  fully  all  j)laces  visited,  and  noted  the  impressions  mad*-  u]um 
his  mind  by  the  persons  whom  he  heard  in  public  or  met  in  \>n- 
vate.  His  joui'nal  was  written  f(n"  his  own  satisfaction  and  the 
gratification  of  the  few  friends  to  whom  it  would  be  sul)mitted. 
It  was  written  with  no  purpose  or  expectation  of  publication, 
although  everything'  is  told  with  such  accuracy  and  beauty  of 
description  that  it  would  form  a  volume  of  most  interesting  for- 
eign travel.  Others  before,  and  multitudes  since  then,  have  gfone 
over  the  same  regions  and  have  given  to  the  world  and  the  Church 
such  full  and  minute  accounts  of  their  travels  as  to  render  it 
unnecessary  to  introduce  any  copious  extracts  from  Dr.  Pixknev's 
journal.  Some  passages,  however,  may  be  given  in  illustration 
of  the  tone  and  style  in  which,  Avith  his  glowing  fancy  and  facile 
diction,  he  could  portray  the  novel  scenes  and  objects  that  came 
before  him  and  the  characteristics  of  the  persons  whom  he  had 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  and  hearing. 

Dr.  PiNKNEY  sailed  from  New  York  in  company  with  his  brother 
in  the  steamer  Scotia  on  the  '21st  July,  18Gi).  The  j^assage  across 
the  ocean  was  exceedingly  pleasant,  without  storms,  accidents, 
or  anything  to  endanger  safety  or  mar  the  pleasure  of  a  voyage 
over  the  sea.  Landing  at  Liverpool,  after  a  brief  sojourn  to  view 
the  w^onderful  docks  of  that  famous  port,  the  party  proceeded  on 
to  London.  Visiting  London,  Leeds,  Southampton,  York,  and 
other  places  of  note,  Dr.  Pinkney  passed  up  into  Scotland,  visiting 
Glasgow  and  Edinburgh,  and  had  the  rare  pleasure  of  seeing  some- 
what of  the  famous  Lochs  and  the  romantic  scenery  so  replete 
with  historic  associations.  He  then  went  over  to  the  Continent, 
spent  some  time  in  France,  Germany,  Ai^stria,  Switzerland,  and 
Italy,  visiting  most  of  the  noted  cities  of  those  countries.  His 
progress  in  England  and  Scotland  and  in  his  European  travels 
cannot  be  here  traced,  for  it  would  make  this  biography  too  volu- 
minous. Some  few  extracts,  however,  may  be  given  from  his 
journal. 

Vivid  and  glowing  as  are  his  descriptions  of  the  scenes  he  vis- 
ited, of  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  AVestminster  Abbey,  York  Minster, 
and  the  ruins  of  old  monasteries  in  their  architectural  beauty  and 
grandeur,  it  is  more  interesting  to  note  the  impressions  he  received 
from  the  prominent  men  with  whom  he  became  acquainted  and 
the  preachers  he  had  ojDportunity  of  hearing  in  some  of  the  prin- 
■cipal  churches. 


About  this  time  the  doctor's  broth 
lished  a  life  of  their  distinsuisl:: 
lawyer,  and  Mini  an  len^.^   his  aid  i 


1  Rev.   'vTllliam  Pinkney,   pub- 
icle,   'Tilliaj'i  Pinlmey   the   rp?eat 
ieking  patronage  for  the  work: 


164  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   PINKNEY. 

It  is  the  li^•ing  actors,  the  men  of  the  age,  who  both  reflect  and 
control  the  agencies  that  are  at  work  in  Church  and  State  for  the 
progressive  development  of  a  people  in  personal,  social,  civil,  and 
religious  relations  that  most  attract  the  attention  and  observation 
of  an  intelligent  churchman  reared  under  the  influences  of  our 
American  institutions.  Dr.  Pinkney,  even  if  he  had  been  well- 
versed  in  the  science  of  political  economy  and  in  the  principles  of 
civil  government,  could  have  had  no  opportunity  of  studying  the 
pohtical  aftairs  of  Great  Britain  :  but  he  could  see  everywhere  the 
evidences  of  that  new  and  quickened  life  which  was  stirring  the 
Church  of  England  and  giving  prestige  of  still  further  onward 
movements  which  were  to  go  on  increasingly  in  all  departments 
of  Church  activity,  and  which  have  since  become  so  marked  in  the 
Church  of  England.  In  the  varied  organizations  for  Church  work, 
in  the  crowded  congregations  in  the  churches,  in  the  solemnity, 
order,  and  eff"ectiveness  of  the  services,  in  the  reverence  of  the  woi'- 
shippers,  and  the  earnestness  of  the  preachers  he  could  see  such 
evidences.  At  the  same  time  he  could  not  but  see  much  calculated 
to  excite  fears  and  uneasiness  from  the  encroachments  of  an  idtra- 
ritualism  Avith  Romeward  tendencies  on  the  one  hand,  and  from 
the  looseness  of  theological  views  among  many  touching  the  set- 
tled standards  of  faith  in  the  creeds  and  the  formalities  of  the 
Church. 

His  first  day's  record  in  his  iournal  is  as  follows  : 

"  Took  passage  iu  the  Scotia,  a  uoble  ship,  commanded  by  one  of  the' 
oldest  and  most  skilful  of  English  sailors.  Weighed  anchor  about  4  p.  m., 
July  21,  1869.  Sky  clear  as  a  diamond.  Hope  beaming  in  the  eyes  of  some ; 
tears  hanging  on  the  eyelids  of  others.  This  going  down  to  the  sea  in  shijjs 
is  wonderful.  Great  changes  have  passed  over  it  since  the  first  adventurers 
on  the  briny  deep  ventured  forth  on  voyage  of  pleasure  or  of  profit,  to 
search  out  the  hidden  treasures  of  other  lands,  or  gaze  on  the  magnificent 
relics  of  a  glorioiis  past.  The  ocean  was  designed  to  be  a  bond  of  union 
between  all  the  peoples  of  the  globe  ;  not  a  barrier  of  separation.  It  is  the 
great  highway  of  nations,  and  all  over  it  you  now  behold  the  most  gratifying 
signs  of  advancing  civilization.  It  is  not  possible  to  conceive  of  a  more 
marvellous  achievement  of  art  than  the  building  of  a  steamship  and  her 
unerring  navigation  over  the  pathless  desert  as  she  goes  out  at  pleasure,  with 
sail  or  without  it,  unless  it  be  the  resting  on  its  sandy  bed  of  the  electric 
cable,  along  which  the  unspoken  languages  of  earth  are  transmitted  so  as 
to  be  intelligible  to  all  without  interpreter. 

"  The  going  forth  for  the  first  time  from  home  and  cotmtry  fills  one  with 
the  strangest  emotions,  and  the  heart  grows  sad  as  spire  and  hill  and  valley 
fade  from  view.  In  a  little  while  we  were  plowing  the  waves  at  the  rate  of 
14  miles  an  hour.  The  night  was  surpassingly  beautiful.  A  moonlight  on 
the  sea— such  a  moonlight  on  such  a  sea.  The  former  in  a  full  flood-tide, 
the  latter  as  calm  and  blue  as  the  Chesapeake  when  but  a  zephyr  stirs  its 
bosom.  Not  a  ripjile  visible.  Not  a  sound  audible  but  the  gentle  murmur 
of  the  water  as  it  yielded  to  the  motion  of  the  ship.  I  have  often  gazed  on 
the  moonlight  on  the  laud,  as  it  played  on  tree  and  shrub  and  flower  and 
thought  it  lovely  ;  but  the  moonlight  on  the  sea  is  inexpressibly  more  lovely. 
It  is  then  and  there  that  the  pale  queen  reveals  all  her  power  to  charm.  I  have 
not  seen  the  deep  green  of  the  ocean.     No  storm  has  yet  swept  over  it.     The 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY.  105 

winds  are  fast  asleep.  JEolus  has  not  opened  the  portals  of  his  stormy  cavern. 
I  am  walking  the  deck  at  this  late  hour,  in  the  presence  of  the  boundless 
domain.     No  words  can  express  my  feelings  of  admiration  and  wonder." 

Upon  his  arrival  in  England  Dr.  Pinkney  availed  Limsflf  of 
every  opportunity  of  hearing  distinguished  preachers  among  the 
clergy  of  his  Church. 

He  gives  the  following  pen-jiortraiture  of  Bishop  Wilherforce, 
of  Oxford,  whom  he  had  the  pleasvire  of  hearmg  at  Leeds  : 

"  In  the  evening  I  went  to  St.  Peter's,  and  heard  the  Bishop  of  O.xford. 
He  has  a  very  imposing  iiresence,  is  a  fine-looking  man,  and  carries  with  him 
the  consciousness  of  power.  His  voice  is  rich  and  full,  and  is  managed  with 
extraordinary  skill.  It  resembles  the  voice  of  the  late  Dr.  Hawks,  and  when 
I  say  that  of  it,  I  say  all  that  can  be  said  of  the  instrument.  For  next  to  Mr. 
Clay's,  Dr.  Hawks  possessed  a  voice  more  splendidly  adapted  to  oratory 
than  that  of  any  other  public  speaker  I  have  heard.  The  Bishop  preached 
without  notes,  or  seldom  referred  to  them.  He  is  not  rapid.  His  pauses  are 
absolutely  thrilling.  Nervously  excited  at  times  he  is,  nevertheless,  always 
self-possessed.  Dr.  Magee,  the  Bishop  of  Peterborough,  is  said  to  be  more 
eloquent  than  Wilberforee.  The  Bishop  of  Oxford  uses  his  low  tones  with 
great  effect.  They  are  marvellously  sweet.  There  were  .5,000  persons  pres- 
ent. It  was  a  mighty  host  to  stir  the  heart  and  tune  the  tongue  to  eloquence. 
The  music  was  faultless.  The  organ  was  one  of  immense  power,  and  yet  in 
the  softer  notes  it  rivalled  the  52olian  harp  when  the  mildest  spring  zephyr 
whispered  through  the  lattice.  The  Bishop  of  Oxford  is  a  study.  His 
.sermon  as  a  work  of  art  was  wonderfiil.  It  was  more  remarkable  for  its 
adaptation  to  the  pojjular  mind  than  for  its  logical  power  or  power  of  word- 
painting.  Not  that  it  was  deficient  in  power.  Its  chief  excellence  lay  in  the 
art  of  its  construction  as  an  appeal  to  the  popular  taste,  and  that  was 
wonderful.  When  he  touched  the  chords  of  pathos  he  was  in  the  full  perfec- 
tion of  his  art — simple,  grand,  awful.  So  much  for  the  first  burst  of  genuine 
eloquence  I  have  heard  since  I  touched  English  soil. 

"  I  should  like  to  hear  Magee.  He  is  said  to  be  impetuous  and  over- 
whelming. If  so,  he  must  resemble  the  Bishop  of  Maryland.  Judging 
from  this  one  discourse  I  am  forced  to  the  conclusion  that  intellect- 
ually the  Bishop  of  Oxford  does  not  equal  Whittiugham.  At  least  his 
intellectual  wealth  is  not  so  patent  in  the  discourse.  In  the  power 
to  sift  the  conscience  he  is  far  below  the  Maryland  Bishop.  In  the 
tender  and  pathetic  he  is  far  above  him.  In  voice  and  manner  the 
great  English  prelate  excels  the  first  of  our  American  jjreachers.  On  the 
whole,  I  am  of  opinion  still  that  Bishop  Whittiugham  is  the  greatest  preacher 
in  the  world,  or,  rather,  that  he  was  when  in  his  prime.  If  his  judgment 
were  equal  to  his  eloqiience  and  burning  logic,  he  would  be  the  noblest  type 
of  a  chief  shepherd.  But  here  he  signally  fails.  Wilberforee  possesses  more 
versatility  of  genius,  is  capable  of  filling  a  wider  range  of  active  service, 
knows  how  to  nile  a  diocese  better,  is  a  more  magnificent  writer,  and  can 
use  the  pen  even  more  effectively  than  the  tongue.  I  think  I  have  pro- 
nounced impartial  judgment." 

In  a  lecture  delivered  after  his  return  from  Eurojoe,  Dr.  Pink- 
ney refers  again  to  the  Bishop  of  Oxford,  and  thus  speaks : 

"Canon  Hays  told  me  that,  at  a  convention  equal  in  ability  and  learning 
to  any  that  had  ever  assembled,  he  delivered  a  charge  of  three  hours,  that 
flashed  at  every  point  like  a  diamond,  and  then  walked  into  an  adjoining 
room  where  there  were  four  hundred  children,  the  chords  of  whose  hearts 


166  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

lie  swept  as  skilfully  as  any  organist  the  keys  of  his  mighty  instrument. 
He  then  entered  a  dining-room,  where  at  table  there  were  seated  a  number 
of  laymen,  to  whom  he  narrated  events  of  historic  interest,  touching  their 
respective  localities,  unknown  to  them,  and  then,  on  being  toasted,  he 
delivered  a  dinner  speech  such  as  never  fell  from  the  lips  of  any  other — all 
in  one  breath." 

He  describes  his  risits,  on  the  morning  of  Sunday,  to  St.  Paul's 
Cathedral,  and  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  to  Westminster 
Abbey  as  follows  : 

"  St.  Paul's  is  a  structure  magnificent  in  its  proportions.  The  dome  is  a 
gem  of  its  kind.  The  chancel  is  vastly  imposing.  The  communion  service 
is  of  solid  gold,  and  very  massive,  and  most  elaborately  wrought.  The  ser- 
vice, not  chanted,  is  intoned.  The  singing  was  not  equal  to  that  I  have  heard 
in  Trinity.  New  York.  I  confess  that  the  mode  of  conducting  the  worship 
is,  to  my  taste,  far  less  than  when  no  part  is  intoned.  The  sermon  by  the 
Eev.  Mr.  Hall  was  a  good,  sensible  discourse,  clear  in  statement  and  bold 
and  decided  in  the  line  of  argument.  It  was,  however,  devoid  of  passion  as 
of  imagination.  The  sermon  was  just  twenty  minutes.  One  thing  I  liked 
in  the  preacher — his  pauses,  they  were  very  telling.  I  like  also  the  English 
mode  of  beginning  each  sermon  with  jjrayer;  a  short,  appropriate,  burning 
jDrayer.  The  communion  office  was  faultlessly  rendered  :  the  most  dignified 
and  unctious  celebration  I  ever  witnessed.  Here  there  was  no  intoning,  no 
chanting,  fi-om  the  beginning  to  the  close.  It  was  simple,  grand,  glorious  ; 
most  powerful  because  most  real.  Our  communion  oflBce  far  siarpasses  the 
English.  But  we  have  much  to  learn  about  the  thing  called  reverence  ;  at 
least  I  have. 

"In  the  afternoon  we  went  to  Westminster  Abbey.  The  singing  was 
marvellous.  It  was  overwhelmingly  grand.  The  church  itself  is  the  loveliest 
in  Loudon.  Its  antiquity  consecrates  it.  There  was  a  large  congregation 
present.  The  sermon  by  the  Dean  (Dr.  Stanley)  was  good,  delivered  with 
unction  and  some  pathos.  It  was  pointed  and  direct.  It  was  not,  however, 
in  any  sense  remarkable.  This  surprised  me,  as  in  his  published  works  the 
Dean  has  exhibited  a  very  high  degree  of  imaginative  power,  great  richness 
of  diction,  beauty  of  illustration,  striking  antithesis,  and  dramatic  genius." 

At  York  Minster  he  was  hospitably  entertained  by  Canon  Hays. 
Of  this  visit  he  thus  speaks  : 

"  We  drove  to  the  residence  of  Canon  Hays.  He  met  us  at  the  door,  and 
said,  '  I  know  you,  gentlemen.  My  brother  has  written  me,  advising  me  of 
your  visit.  Will  you  take  lunch  with  me  now,  or  shall  w'e  go  first  to  the 
Minster  'i  There  is  much  to  be  seen,  so  we  must  be  prompt.'  We  started 
out  on  our  tour  of  inspection.  *  *  *  j  ^yas  deeply  impressed  with  the 
music.  It  was  more  sedate  than  that  in  Westminster  Abbey,  V)ut  not  compar- 
able to  it  in  artistic  power.  It  is  not  jiossiVile  to  do  justice  to  this  wonderful 
structure  without  the  genius  of  a  Michael  Angehj.  Art  has  made  no  progress 
since  that  day.  This  age  could  not,  I  V)elieve,  reproduce  the  creation  of  the 
centuries  gone  by.  I  saw  nothing  in  the  Old  World  comparable  to  it. 
Cologne  does  not  rival  it,  uc^r  does  the  gorgeous  cathedral  at  Florence.  I 
did  not  see  Canterbury." 

His  visit  to  Scotland  was  intensely  interesting  and  gratifying. 
Its  romantic  and  historic  associations  kindled  up  in  his  soul  the 
most  glowing  feelings.  At  Glasgow  and  the  A;^^-,  on  the  river 
Doon,  and  Lochs  Katrine  and  Lomond,  and  in  Edinburg  he  felt 


J 


LIFE    OF    msHOl'    I'lNKNKV.  ICT 

the  inspiration  of  the  scenes  as  nieniory  nraHcd   tlic  past.      lio 
writes : 

"It  is  not  possible  tn  express  in  words  the  feeliii<is  tlmt  steal  over  y<iu 
while  standing  on  the  very  spot  where  the  l)iij.;le-notes  of  Keotlanil  inint^led 
with  the  sweetest  notes  of  Scothuid's  rivers.  It  woidd  take  days  to  tract; 
the  incidents  as  they  rise  u))  for  review,  while  we  had  hnt  a  few  lionrs  at  onr 
L'onunand.  The  heart  enters  slowly  into  the  poetry  of  sueh  scenes  and  takes 
in  the  beauty  as  slowly.     It  <^rows  into  the  scenes  it  contenijilates. 

"  Just  think  of  it.  Wallace,  the  hero  of  Scotland,  who  detied  the  enemies 
of  his  native  heath,  and  with  his  own  single  arm  drove  back  her  cruel 
invaders,  incarcerated  in  a  town  near  the  sea-coast  of  Ayr  ;  the  poet  Burns, 
who  swept  his  harp  to  notes  of  freedom  :  Bruce,  the  embodiment  of  chiv- 
alry. I  must  take  back  part  of  the  word,  for  his  was  a  chivalry  that  was 
mixed  up  with  so  much  of  human  weakness  that  it  scarcely  reached  the 
sublimity  of  that  rarest  of  noble  traits.  The  Highland  Mary,  the  blossom 
that  gave  a  lustre  to  the  poet's  brightest  day-dream  of  love  :  the  Doon,  with 
its  silvery  wave  flowing  ji;st  as  it  did  when  Burns  caught  up  the  music  of  its 
song,  all  grouped  together  in  the  contemplation  of  a  few  hours  when  months 
were  all  too  short  for  the  contemplation.  But  so  it  is  in  life.  The  past  and 
the  present  meet — meet  to  mingle,  and  then  part  company." 

Lea^dng  Scotlaud  on  the  way  to  London  he  records  an  inter- 
view held  with  a  fellow-traveller  in  the  cars  : 

"In  the  latter  part  of  the  journey  I  had  qiiite  an  animated  talk  with  a 
gentleman  who  was  plainly  dressed,  but  exceedingly  well-informed,  and 
gifted  with  extraordinary  conversational  powers.  He  spoke  of  Gladstone 
and  Bright,  and  in  the  analysis  of  their  peculiar  gifts  and  striking  contrast* 
he  displayed  uncommon  aciamen.  Gladstone  draws  his  illustrations  from 
history  and  the  classics,  and  is  a  great  logician :  Bright  from  Scrii)ture  and 
every-day  life.  He  knows  how  to  play  on  the  harp  of  the  human  heart  as 
few  other  men  can.  I  expressed  to  him  my  fears  that  England  was  being 
fast  inoculated  with  the  love  of  change,  and  growang  restless.  It  was 
moral  power  that  gave  her  such  unparalleled  influence  in  the  family  of 
nations.  It  was  the  stability  of  her  institxitions  that  were  deep-rooted  iu 
the  soil  of  centuries  that  had  placed  her  in  the  vanguard  of  the  civilized 
world  ;  that  lost,  she  would  sink  rapidly  to  the  size  of  her  diminutive  islands, 
andV)e  compelled  to  surrender  her  long-l)oasted  siipremacy  of  the  seas.  He 
denounced  the  establishment  in  a  strain  of  bitter  irony.  I  told  him  that 
the  conservatism  of  the  Cluirchhad  been  a  signal  blessing  to  the  State,  while 
the  Church  herself  had  received  no  corresi3onding  lienefit  iu  return.  The 
world  had  never  seen  so  sublime  a  trusteeship  of  great  rights  so  conscien- 
tiously discharged,  and  never  would.  In  railroad  cars  all  over  the  Kingdom 
I  have  met  with  but  one  class  of  sentiments.  It  is  true  they  may  be  all 
of  the  radical  element ;  but  if  so,  it  must  be  wide-spread  and  intensely 
active." 

Hence  he  subsequently  writes  : 

"  England  seems  to  be  passing  under  changes  that  will  test  to  the  utmost 
her  powers  of  endurance.  She  has  need  for  caution.  Changes  sometimes 
lure  to  death.  Ruin  follows  sometimes  on  the  cry  for  reform.  It  is  the 
stability  of  England  that  has  won  my  confidence:  her  fixedness  in  the 
soil  of  noble,  well-tried  principles.  Tliis  has  l)een  her  distinguishing  glory 
for  centuries.  To  say  that  my  confidence  is  unshaken  wtnild  be  to  say  what 
is  not  true.     I  greatly  fear  for  her  future.     The  brilliancy  of  her  present 


168  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   PINKNEY. 

Premier  in  scholarly  taste  and  extraordinary  powers  may  not  be  eqiial  to  the 
crisis  which  he  and  others  less  gifted,  but  more  wily,  are  bringing  about. 
To  wake  the  whirlwind  is  easy  :  to  control  and  direct  it,  when  abroad  in 
its  fury,  may  be  above  their  ability.  I  trust  I  may  be  mistaken.  But  still 
it  wiirV)e  remembered  that  I  hnve  listened  to  the  undulations  of  the  deep 
current  that  flows  far  below  the  surface.  It  is  the  public  heart,  as  it  meets 
one  in  railroads  and  steamers,  whose  pulsations  I  am  feeling.  The  beatings 
of  that  heart  are  irregular  and  excited,  and  show  the  need  of  a  physician. 
One  alarming  sign  is  observable  to  the  most  superficial  observer.  While 
the  popiilace  are" craving  more  power,  and  the  levelling  principle  is  in  the 
ascendant,  the  aristocracy  is  waning  ;  demoralization  is  going  on  at  the 
heart,  and  restlessness  and  discontent  are  pervading  the  body." 

In  these,  his  remarks,  Dr.  Pinkney  was  simply  expressing  his 
fears  respecting  the  pohtical  aspects  of  the  times.  Subsequent 
events,  however,  have  shown  what  grave  grounds  there  were  for 
anxiety.  But  he  well  knew,  at  the  same  time,  that  beneath  the 
radical  restlessness  and  the  sui-face  agitations  there  lay  the  deep 
and  strong  religious  feeUng,  so  characteristic  of  the  Anglo-Saxon 
race,  prevalent  in  the  homes  of  the  English  people  and  control- 
ling in  unseen  ways  the  counsels  and  movements  of  reform  in 
both  Chvirch  and  State.  That  feeling  has  been  fully  roused  in 
the  Church  of  England.  It  was  not  dormant  at  the  time  of  Dr. 
Pixkney's  \dsit,  twenty  years  ago.  The  first  Lambeth  conference 
had  but  recently  closed  its  sessions  and  issued  its  important 
encyclical  to  the  Churches  of  the  Anglo-Communion.  Since  then 
more  actively  there  has  been  awakened  in  the  Church  of  England 
a  sjDii'it  that  is  alive  to  the  needs  of  the  age  and  the  country,  and 
is  bringing  into  operation  the  most  effective  measures  for  the 
amelioration  of  the  condition  of  the  j^eople,  for  bringing  the 
masses  into  the  communion  of  the  Church,  and  for  extending  the 
Gospel  kingdom  throughout  the  world.  The  Year  Book  of  the 
Church  of  England,  recently  issued,  shows  avast  amoiint  of  such 
labors  and  of  liberal  offerings  for  these  purposes. 

As  a  counterpart  to  these,  his  political  forebodings,  Dr.  Pink- 
NEY  gives  an  instance  of  family  life  in  the  household  of  a  distin- 
guished physician  in  London,  which,  as  one  of  many  like  instances 
in  England,  serves  to  show  what  a  conser\ing  power  the  Chui'ch 
jirofesses  and  exercises  in  the  family  worship  against  infidelity 
and  anarchy  : 

'■We  took  breakfast  this  morning  with  Dr.  T.,  an  eminent  surgeon  of 
London,  a  gentleman  of  most  winning  manners  and  marked  ability.  We 
were  introduced  to  his  lady  and  sister-in-law,  both  of  whom  were  very  cour- 
teo\is  and  lady-like.  Roon  after  we  entered  the  servants  came  in,  when  the 
doctor  opened  his  Bilile  and  read  a  chapter  from  Job.  Englishmen  read 
well.  They  modiilate  the  voice  and  suit  it  to  the  sentiment.  At  least  the 
doctor  did.  He  then  offered  a  few  short,  burning  collects  with  great  unction 
smd  pathos.  It  was  a  charming  spectacle.  In  Leeds  and  London  the  fear 
of  God  is  a  crowning  characteristic  of  the  faculty.  Always  at  church  on 
Sunday,  ever  mindful  of  the  beauty  of  social  worship  on  week-days,  they 
are,  indeed,  the  glory  of  the  laud.     It  did  me  good  to  witness  this  touching 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY.  1  ('•',» 

family  sceiii',  and  it  proved  to  luf  that   it  is  hli'ssed  to  consecrute  genill^s  tn 
the  cross. 

"There  is  no  office  hour  on  Sundays  at  the  tinie  for  stated  pulflic  wor- 
ship, and  no  voice  htished  at  the  family  altar,  thou^;h  no  class  of  men  are 
more  pressed  by  business  or  more  dee])ly  absorbed  in  study.  We  had  a  j^ood 
deal  of  conversation,  ])articularly  the  ladies  and  myself.  We  discussed  the 
Bishoj)  of  O.xford.  Of  course  I  paid  him  an  honest  and  well-merited  tribute 
for  surpassing  eloquence.  When  I  mentioned  the  Hishoj)  of  Marylan<l  and 
alluded  to  his  extraordinary  genius,  particularly  his  jxiwer  of  siftin^<  the 
conscience  and  j^lowinj,'  lot^ic,  tliey  seemed  surprised.  I  fear  that  the  people 
of  England  know  notliin<,'  of  our  threat  men.  In  lookinj.;  at  a  da<,'uerrotype 
of  a  little  boy  I  alluded  to  the  likeness  to  William  Wirt,  and  was  astonished 
to  discover  that  they  knew  as  little  of  the  author  of  the  '  ]}ritish  Spy  '  and 
the  eloquent  advocate  of  the  States  as  thoui^h  he  had  never  existed.  *  ♦  * 
It  w'ere  wise  in  En^jland  to  cast  a  j^lance  occasionally  across  the  waters  and 
note  the  progress  we  are  making  in  the  march  of  mind.  We  study  their 
social,  political,  comiuercial.  literary,  and  scieutitic  character  with  both  pride 
and  ])leasure,  and  feel  that  we  have  a  birthright  in  the  brilliancy  of  her 
growing  renown.  Siirely  it  would  not  detract  from  their  dignity  to  turn 
occasionally  to  our  men  of  literature,  our  statesmen,  orators,  and  votaries  of 
science." 

Leaving-  England  for  the  Continent  on  the  31st  Aug-nst.  the 
brothers  visited  the  principal  cities  in  France,  Gernuuiy.  Austria, 
and  Switzerland,  and  passed  into  Italy.  Dr.  Pixkneys  movements 
on  the  Continent  were  rapid  and  his  sojourn  at  different  places 
brief  ;  but  he  was  a  very  close  observer  and  entered  with  spirit 
into  the  scenes  that  came  before  him.  As  he  was  seeking  only 
recreation  and  the  enrichment  of  mind  that  come  from  travel  for 
the  first  time  over  countries  replete  with  the  imperishal:)le  monu- 
ments of  man's  genius  and  prowess,  it  is  sufficient  to  indicate  the 
intensity  of  the  interest  and  the  fulness  of  the  appreciation  with 
which  he  admiiingiy  dwelt  upon  everything-  that  was  beautiful 
in  nature  and  grand  in  human  achievement. 

At  Florence  he  was  detained  longer  than  in  any  other  European 
city,  being-  kept  there  by  his  brother's  attendance  upon  the  med- 
ical conference  then  in  session.  This  gave  him  full  time  for 
seeing-  the  marvellous  beauties  of  that  famous  city.  He  used 
well  the  opportunities  of  his  prolonged  sojourn,  andg-ives  minute 
descriptions  of  the  churches,  the  pictiu-e  galleries,  and  other 
j)laces  of  note.  His  criticisms  are  quite  remarkable  for  artistic 
taste  and  discrimination. 

He  makes  the  following-  record : 

''  September  2(i. — Kode  to  the  llev.  Mr.  I.i:ii.igdon's  house  and  attended 
service — preached — felt  the  novelty  of  the  situation.  I  tind  on  the  Conti- 
nent that  sermons  are  always  very  short.  Quick  surgery  is  good  when  the 
case  will  admit  of  it.  But  the  wounds  of  the  heart  are  not  so  easily  probed, 
the  troubles  of  the  conscience  are  not  so  easily  quieted. 

"  I  spent  a  day  in  the  studios  of  America's  artists.  P(jwers  was  the  first 
I  called  on.  He  received  me  most  graciously.  He  is  an  old  man  young  in 
heart  and  younger  still  in  hope,  in  the  fulness  of  an  imagination  that  time 
has  not  in  "the  least  degree  weakened.     He  is  finishing  and  has  now  nearly 


170  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

completed  a  statue  of  Eve  just  after  the  fall,  in  the  moment  when  she  is 
wakintj  up  to  a  life-consciousness  of  the  deadly  sin  she  has  committed.  It 
is  a  marvellous  conception.  The  countenance  speaks  in  every  feature.  The 
attitude  is  full  of  grace.  There  is  the  exquisite  development  of  woman,  with 
lofty  intellectuality  and  flush  of  feeling.  It  is  eminently  free  from  the 
grosser  elements.  There  is  a  warmth  about  it  that  looks  very  like  life.  It 
fs  wimderful  that  the  rhef-dUrnvre  of  this  Ajax  in  the  world  of  Art  should  be 
the  child  of  his  old  age.  For  ordinarily  the  imagination  droops,  loses  its 
elasticity  and  Promethan  fire  when  the  frame  is  bowed.  It  is  a  sad  conse- 
quence of  man's  present  probation  that,  by  the  time  he  masters  his  pi-ofession 
and  is  full  of  knowledge  and  skill  in  the  lise  of  his  instruments  of  labor,  the 
imagination  droops  and  the  power  of  execution  is  weakened.  But  in  the 
case  of  Powers  this  law  of  our  being  seems  to  be  reversed.  His  faculties 
seem  to  be  brighter  with  advancing  years." 

Of  the  visit  to  Geneva  a  brief  extract  from  his  journal  may  be 
given : 

"  "What  a  strange  constellation  of  names  meets  us  in  this  land  of  wonders  !' 
Voltaire.  Calvin,  Cassaubou,  Rousseau,  Byron,  Madame  de  Stael.  There  is 
a  monument  to  Rousseau,  and  it  is  said  that  at  Ferney  the  heart  of  Voltaire 
is  deposited.     The  heart  of  Voltaire  1     Mixerabile  dictu. 

"  It  is  strange  to  think  how  Calvinism  has  died  out  in  Geneva — how  dead 
the  power  of  that  gi-eat  reformer  has  become.  He  was  great.  Few  men 
possessed  his  depth  or  force,  and  yet  his  system  was  dark  and  gloomy.  It 
lacked  the  sunshine  of  the  cross.  He  forgot  that  reform  is  not  revolution. 
He  was  singularly  clear  and  outspoken  on  the  sacraments." 

The  time  was  drawing  near  for  his  return  to  America ;  but  before 
taking  his  departure  he  was  anxious  to  make  a  short  visit  to 
Venice,  the  Queen  City  of  the  Adriatic,  and  he  hastened  to  accom- 
plish the  object.     One  single  incident  of  that  visit  will  be  given : 

"  At  night  we  took  a  walk  in  company  with  our  guide,  crossed  the  Rialto 
and  came  abruptly  upon  a  church  said  to  be  the  oldest  in  Venice,  built  in 
420.  Just  opposite  is  the  identical  house  occupied  by  the  Merchant  of 
Venice,  so  immortalized  by  the  muse  of  Shakespeare.  It  is  a  dingy  looking 
building,  well  suited  to  such  an  occupant,  the  man  of  the  '  pound  of  flesh.' 
We  then  took  a  gondola  and  rowed  two  miles  over  the  Bay  of  Venice  in  the 
clear  light  of  the  moon  to  the  Island  of  Lido,  which  serves  as  a  breakwater 
to  guard  the  city  from  the  inroads  of  the  sea.  Landing  we  crossed  over  on 
foot  about  eleven  p.  m.  (a  half  mile)  and  stood  in  the  broad  moonlight  on 
the  shore  of  the  Adriatic,  and  listened  to  the  tones  of  that  grandest  of  organs 
as  the  waves  chased  each  other  on  the  sandy  beach.  It  was  inexpressibly 
grand  to  find  one's  self  beneath  a  cloudless  evening  sky,  all  alone  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  mighty  sea,  while  the  soft  glimmer  was  playing  on  its  bosom. 
The  murmur  of  the  sea  even  in  repose  is  a  music  that  fills  with  transports 
of  delight.  What  must  it  be  when  swept  by  the  tornado  I  As  I  dipped  my 
hand  in  the  waves,  at  the  hour  of  midnight,  I  felt  I  was  as  near  the  terribly 
sublime  as  I  ever  expect  to  be,  and  nearer.  On  our  return  the  tide  was  in 
our  favor,  and  we  glided  like  an  arrow  through  the  water." 

At  the  close  of  October  the  brothers  set  sail  for  America  from. 
Southampton.  Of  the  incidents  of  his  return,  the  sea  voyage,  the 
happy  welcome  that  awaited  him  at  his  home,  and  the  joyous 
greetings  from  his  people  of  the  Ascension  it  is  unnecessary  ta 


LIFE    OF   BlSHor    I'lNKNEY.  171 

write.  All  were  eager  to  know  wliut  he  luul  seen  and  what  to 
tell,  for  far  more  interest  attached  to  Eurojiean  travel  twenty- 
years  ago  than  at  the  present  day,  when  multitudes  to  be  counted 
by  thousands  are  constantly  crossing  the  ocean  in  the  steamer 
palaces.  To  satisfy  the  wishes  of  his  peoi)le  and  friends  Dr. 
PiNKXEY  drew  from  his  journal  the  materials  for  several  interest- 
ing and  instructive  lectures,  which  were  delivered  without  charge 
or  cost  to  the  hearers. 

He  returned  to  his  active  duties  as  a  pastor  as  though  no  such 
gratifpng  recess  from  ministerial  work  had  been  granted  to  him. 
He  found  in  his  loved  home  and  among  his  l)eloved  people  all  that 
he  needed  for  wholesome  duty  and  spiritual  refreshment. 


172  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    PINKNEY. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Review  of  His  Rectorship  in  the  Ascension  from  1857  to  1870. 

Dr.  Pinkney's  rectorship  in  the  j^arish  of  the  Ascension  reached 
from  October,  1857,  to  October,  1870,  a  period  of  thirteen  years, 
during-  which  he  was  in  the  full  vigor  of  intellectual  ability  and 
of  physical  powers  for  the  active  work  of  the  ministry.  That 
period  had  been  jjreceded  by  a  like  ^dgor  of  mind  and  body  for 
more  than  twenty  years  in  rural  parishes.  His  continuous  paro- 
chial ministry  covered  a  j^eriod  of  more  than  thii'ty-four  years. 

It  may  be  well  here,  at  this  stage  of  his  life,  to  note  the  charac- 
teristics and  qualities  which  made  his  pastorate  in  the  priesthood 
so  marked  and  so  eminently  useful.  Successful  ministry  in  the 
priesthood  is  the  best  preparation  for  the  episcopate,  which  is 
only  a  higher  order  of  the  one  divine  ministry  in  the  Church.  In 
all  departments  of  her  work  the  Church  needs  young  men,  but  her 
wisest  counsellors  and  safest  rulers  have  ever  been  found  among 
those  whose  ripe  experience  and  well-tried  "sdrtues  have  fitted 
them  for  guidance  and  government. 

The  true  measure  of  a  man,  intellectually  as  well  as  morally 
and  spiritually,  is  to  be  found  in  his  ability  to  fill  rightly  and 
honorably  the  positions  he  is  called  to  fill,  to  meet  successfully 
and  nobly  the  issues  that  come  up  before  him,  to  overmaster  dif- 
ficulties as  they  arise,  to  use  his  resources  wisely  and  efiectually 
for  the  ends  to  be  accomplished,  and  to  give  comprehensiveness 
and  completeness  to  work  in  its  details,  in  its  bearings,  and  in  its 
results.  And  although  Dr.  Pinkney,  in  his  hvimility,  would  have 
shrunk  from  the  assumption  that  he  was  reachmg  any  such  stand- 
ard, it  is  fair  to  say  that  his  constant  aim  and  unswerving  efl:brt 
were,  under  the  divine  grace,  to  fulfil  the  ministry  which  he  had 
received  of  the  LORD  JESUS. 

The  two  chief  characteristics  of  his  long  parochial  ministry 
were,  first,  the  faithfulness  of  his  Gosj^el  i^reaching,  and  secondly, 
the  efficiency  of  his  pastoral  work. 

As  a  preacher  he  was  very  pojDular  among  his  own  people,  who 
regarded  him  as  both  able  and  eloquent,  and  were  jDowerfully 
impressed  by  his  earnestness  and  spuituality.  Outside  of  his  own 
congregation  there  were  different  estimates  of  his  pulpit  jDOwers. 
All  recognized  the  sincerity  and  the  fervor  with  which  he  set  forth 
the  great  truths  of  the  Gospel  ;  but  there  were  those  who  re- 
garded his  preaching  as  too  impulsive,  as  defective  in  logical  force 
.and  pith,  and  too  exuberant  in  imagery.     He  laid  no  claim  to  the 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    TINKNEY.  11 '.i 

grand  characteristics  of  the  highest  pulpit  oratory  :  and  yet  he 
was  most  attractive  to  the  poorest  and  plainest  of  his  hearers  and 
at  the  same  time  to  men  of  the  highest  k-aruing  and  culture.  He 
aimed  to  throw  into  his  sermons  all  the  richness  of  thought,  all 
the  force  and  beauty  of  expression,  and  all  the  spiritual  power  he 
could  command  in  order  to  impress  upon  his  hearers  the  great 
Gos-|)el  truths  that  were  so  deeply  felt  in  his  own  soul.  He 
sought  not  popularity,  and  so  resorted  not  to  artificial  and  rhe- 
torical methods  and  aids  to  win  the  plaudits  of  the  multitude. 
There  is  no  doubt  that  he  was  ambitious  to  excel  as  a  preacher ; 
and  it  is  to  the  credit  of  himself  and  the  honor  of  his  ministry 
that  he  did  so.  For  what  minister  of  CHRIST,  feeling  the  grav- 
ity of  the  message  he  has  to  deliver  and  the  fearful  responsibility 
under  whicli  he  has  to  deliver  it,  will  not  desire  and  seek  the  best 
helps  to  make  his  message  effective  ?  Dr.  Pinkney  was  himself 
exceedingly  susceptible  to  the  charms  and  powers  of  oratory  and 
was  easily  moved  and  thrilled  by  eloquence,  whether  from  the 
pvilpit,  in  the  Senate,  or  in  the  courts  of  judicature.  He  would 
listen  in  such  cases  with  rapt  emotion  and  delight.  But  he  made 
not  oratory  his  study.  His  aim  was  to  win  souls  to  Christ. 
Hence,  he  loved  to  dwell  upon  the  theme  of  Christ  crucified,  to 
portray  the  evangelic  fruits  of  faith  in  the  Christian  life,  and  to 
set  forth  the  blessedness  of  union  with  Christ  in  the  holy  com- 
munion of  the  Church.  The  source  of  whatever  was  good  and 
strong,  winning,  and  beautiful,  in  the  preaching  of  Dr.  Pinkney, 
sprung  from  the  thorovighness  with  which  he  received  Christ  into 
his  own  soul. 

He  wrote  with  great  ease  and  rapidity,  so  fond  was  he  of  writ- 
ing, and  such  interest  did  he  take  in  writing  sermons  that  he  was 
always  prepared  with  one  or  more  fresh  ones.  His  sermons  were 
the  results  of  much  careful  study  and  the  outflow  of  his  earnest 
thought  and  vivid  feeling.  They  were  full  of  soul  fervor.  Never 
sijeculative  or  abstruse,  often  largely  expository  of  the  Scripture, 
always  dii-ect  in  spuitual  application  to  the  condition  and  needs 
of  his  hearers.  His  delivery  as  to  its  manner  was  wholly  without 
previous  preparation.  His  manner  was  his  own,  and  therefore 
natural.  He  never  studied  gesticulation  and  the  arts  of  rhetoric. 
He  would  go  on  sometimes  with  great  rapidity,  and  then  fall  into 
subdvied  tones,  scarcely  audible  beyond  the  immediate  hearers. 
Sometimes  most  tender  and  persuasive  in  expostulation,  at  other 
times  almost  startling  in  denunciation  of  irreligion,  unbelief,  and 
the  common  vices  of  the  day.  Often,  quite  undesignedly,  he 
would  fix  his  eye  uj^on  some  single  person  in  the  congregation 
and  with  graphic  poAver  go  on  in  the  application  of  his  sul)ject 
till  one  would  almost  shrink  from  the  seemingly  personal  direct- 
ness of  his  words.  He  had  great  faith  in  the  power  of  the  eye  in 
all  public  speaking,  and,  in  consequence,  he  would  be  rapidly 


174  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    FIXKNEY. 

passing  his  glances  from  manuscript  to  hearers,  rarely  becoming 
embarrassed  or  losing  his  jilace  on  the  written  sermon,  the  more 
remarkal)le  because  his  penmanship  was  very  minute  and  delicate 
in  its  lines,  filling  only  the  triangular  half  of  one  side  of  a  small 
sheet  of  thinnest  paper,  and  must  have  recpiii-ed  a  very  keen  per- 
ception of  sight  to  catch  the  words  and  sentences  in  theii-  order. 
He  was  not  deficient  in  his  gifts  as  an  extempore  speaker.  In 
his  lectures  and  occasional  addresses  to  his  congregation  he 
always  spoke  without  manuscript  or  notes.  While  recognizing 
some  peculiar  advantages  in  the  extempore  method,  he  deemed 
it  wiser,  better,  and  more  eftective  for  unfolding  and  applying  the 
Scripture  truths  that  the  sermon  should  be  carefully  written. 

His  preaching  was  of  a  thoroughly  Churchly  as  well  as  spu-itual 
character.  He  held  strong  and  decided  views  of  the  ajiostolic 
orders  of  the  Church,  of  the  nature  and  efiicacy  of  the  sacraments, 
and  of  the  requu-ements  of  the  canons  and  rubrics  respecting  the 
jDublic  worshij).  In  a  word,  he  Avas  a  sound  and  consistent 
churchman,  holding  the  essential  principles  of  the  Church  as  the 
same  had  been  vindicated  by  the  reformers  of  the  sixteenth  cen- 
tury, enforced  b}^  the  great  theologians  of  the  Church  of  England, 
and  incorporated  in  her  standards  by  the  fathers  of  the  American 
Church.  His  whole  ministry  and  his  occasional  publications  gave 
full  proof  of  these  as  his  settled  convictions,  and  from  them  he 
never  departed. 

Dr.  PiNKNEY  was  a  firm  and  ardent  believer  in  the  inspiration  of 
the  Holy  Scriptiu-es.  He  had  no  special  theory  of  inspiration  ; 
for  he  well  knew  that  the  Church  had  never  settled  upon  and 
enunciated  any  definition  of  inspiration.  He  received  the  Holy 
Scriptures  as  the  revealed  word  of  GOD,  or  as  it  is  expressed  in 
the  Vlth  article  of  the  Church  and  in  the  Homilies,  as  '•  contain- 
ing  the  word  of  GOD."  Receimig  them  ujDon  the  testimony  of 
the  universal  Church,  with  the  historic  i:)roofs  of  theii"  genuine- 
ness and  authenticity,  and  with  the  internal  evidences  of  their 
spu-itual  power  in  and  over  the  soul  and  the  life,  he  bowed  with 
absolute  submissiveness  of  heart  and  mind  to  their  divine  reveal- 
ings.  Thus  recognizing  their  authority  and  fully  persuaded  of 
theu'  sufficiency  for  all  necessary  and  saving  truth  and  guidance, 
he  made  them  the  constant  and  absorbing  study  of  his  ministerial 
life.  He  studied  them  in  the  original  lano-nag-es.  not  critically  in 
the  Hebrew  of  the  Old  Testament,  for.  although  he  had  a  good 
knowledge  of  Hebrew,  he  did  not  profess  to  be  a  Hebrew  scholar, 
but  ever,  and  most  carefully,  in  the  Greek  of  the  New  Testament. 
He  often  selected  his  texts  from  the  Old  Testament  books,  the 
historical  and  the  pro])hetic,  and  would  ^vith  singular  beauty  and 
graphic  power  bring  out  the  rich  spu-itual  teachings  which  they 
contamed  ;  ever  showing  how  the  divine  truths  revealed  centred 
in  and  circled  around  the  one  Saviour  of  the  world,  JESUS 
CHllIST. 


LIFE    OF    15ISH01'    I'INKNEY.  17.') 

He  did  not  i)orpl('X  liiiiisolf  witli  the  (jiicstioiis  of  the  iicwci- 
criticism  then  coming-  into  vogue  from  Germany  and  lurgcly 
infecting-  even  the  E)iglisli  universities.  He  gave  hut  httle  study  to 
the  writings  of  the  Gorman  theoh)gians,  confining  himself  to  some 
few  of  the  ahlest  and  sountlest  writers  among  them.  He  (hd  not 
discard  the  province  of  reason  iii  all  fair  and  reverent  Biblical 
criticism  and  research,  but  he  was  extremely  jeah)us  of  all  ratiou- 
ahstic  assumptions,  based  on  insufficient  data,  as  to  what  was  to 
be  received  and  what  rejected,  as  parts  of  Holy  Scripture.  Hence 
he  kept  steadfast  in  his  own  sure  faith,  and  m  his  ministerial 
teachings  touching  the  sacred  Scriptures. 

The  duties  of  an  active  ministry  in  frequent  ser\aces,  much 
preaching,  and  faithful  i)astoral  work,  precluded  him  from  devot- 
ing much  attention  to  patristic  learning.  He  recognized  the  place 
and  value  of  the  earlier  fathers  as  witnesses  for  the  Catholic  faith 
and  order  of  the  Church  ;  and  he  often  found  i-efreshmeut  and 
dehght  from  the  study,  in  the  original,  of  the  works  of  St.  Augus- 
tine. He  i^referred  to  devote  his  chief  studies  to  the  great  works 
of  the  old  English  divines  as  the  safest  and  surest  guides  in 
dogmatic  theology ;  and  he  considered  that  what  they  may  have 
lacked  in  profound  Scriptural  exegesis  was  more  than  made  up 
by  their  masterly  vindication  of  the  doctrinal  teachings  and 
standards  of  the  Church.  He  was  fvdly  alive  to  the  progress 
of  the  age  in  all  departments  of  human  activity  and  enter- 
prise. To  modern  science  he  gave  only  such  stiidy  as  Avould 
enable  him  to  understand  the  bases  on  which  it  rested,  and  to 
note  its  tendencies  upon  matters  touching  Scripture  and  religious 
truth.  He  believed  that  whatever  might  be  the  advances  of 
scientific  research  and  discovery,  all  facts  clearly  substantiated 
would  be  found  to  harmonize  with  the  divine  revelation  ;  for  he 
was  satisfied  that  there  could  be  no  antagonism  between  the 
works  of  GOD  m  nature  and  the  revealings  of  GOD  in  Hoh- 
Scripture.  He  felt  that  the  authorized  teachers  of  the  Church 
should  keep  fully  abreast  of  the  times  and  be  ever  ready  and  able 
to  meet  new  issues  as  they  might  aiise  in  the  history  and  expe- 
rience of  the  Church.  He  was  conversant  with  the  best  literatiu-e 
of  the  ag-e,  and  kept  himself  well  supplied  with  the  able  works 
constantly  emanating  from  the  most  (hstinguished  writers  and 
theologians  of  the  Church  of  England. 

The  Church  needs  divers  workers  with  varied  gifts  and  in 
separate  spheres  to  carry  on  successfully  her  administration  of 
trust  under  the  Gospel ;  and  Dr.  Pinkney  felt  that  as  a  priest  of 
GOD,  with  the  vows  of  GOD  upon  him,  he  was  specially  called  to 
fill  the  priestly  and  j^astoral  offices  in  the  completeness  of  their 
spu'itual  functions.  This  was  his  high  aim,  his  supreme  ambi- 
tion. His  life  furnishes  a  happy  exemplification  of  his  marked 
success.     And  hence  when  he  became  Bishop  he  could  never  fully 


176  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

tear  asunder  the  old  ties  that  bound  him  to  his  people,  nor  could 
they  ever  feel  that  he  was  wholly  severed  from  them  in  the 
pastoral  relation. 

Dr.  Pinkney"s  efficiency  in  pastoral  work  while  in  charge  of 
rui-al  parishes,  and  of  the  Ascension,  has  been  already  noted. 
Next  to  preaching  he  attached  great  importance  to  pastoral  visit- 
ing. He  was  no  recluse.  He  did  not  shut  himself  up  in  his 
study,  absorbed  in  his  books.  He  was  both  a  diligent  student 
and  an  active,  practical  man.  So  thoroughly  did  he  indentify 
himself  by  his  pastoral  and  social  converse  with  his  parishioners 
of  both  sexes,  young,  mature,  and  aged,  that  he  was  revered  and 
loved  in  every  household.  He  became  almost  domiciled  in  some 
of  their  homes,  sometimes  passing  a  night  at  their  houses,  or 
dropi^ing  in  for  a  pleasant  social  evening  ;  always  striving  to 
turn  the  thoughts  to  religious  subjects,  or  to  some  Church  and 
charitable  work.  "WTaen  any  of  his  flock  were  sick  he  was  sui*e  to 
be  at  the  bedside  for  a  pastor's  consolation  or  cheer,  and  some 
ser\ice  of  prayer.  When  occasion  called  for  it,  or  cii'cumstance 
admitted,  he  would  stay  through  the  night-watches  to  help  in 
nursing.  Where  there  were  children  in  the  household  he  would 
sometimes  take  j^art  in  their  simple  sports.  He  found  occasional 
relaxation  in  a  game  of  backgammon,  or  in  testing  skill  with  a 
friend  at  the  chess-board.  Fluent  in  conversation,  he  would 
sometimes  indulge  in  playful  humor,  or  gentle  teasing,  and  at 
other  times  throw  into  his  manner  somewhat  of  the  earnestness 
and  fervor  that  characterized  his  preaching  and  pubhc  addresses. 

He  possessed  the  happy  faculty  of  adapting  himself  with  per- 
fect ease  and  naturalness,  eqvially  to  persons  in  the  poorest  and 
lowliest  walks  of  life  and  to  those  most  cultured  and  refined  in 
the  higher  circles  of  social  life.  His  friends  were  alike  numerous 
among  the  poor  and  the  rich,  the  ignorant  and  the  educated. 
To  all  under  his  charge  he  was,  without  respect  to  persons  or 
conditions,  the  same  loving  and  faithful  pastor. 

But  in  all  his  pastoral  and  social  intercourse,  he  never  forgot 
his  priestly  character  and  calling,  nor  did  his  people,  in  their 
reciprocating  love,  ever  forget  the  relation  in  which  he  stood  to 
them  as  their  j^astor  and  the  minister  of  Christ. 

To  move  among  men,  winning  then-  love,  gaining  then-  con- 
fidence, and  at  the  same  time  securing  the  reverence  due  to  the 
sacred  office  he  bore,  all  without  conscious  effort,  and  with  no 
purposes  of  self-aggrandizement,  marks  a  man,  not  indeed  of  an 
ideal  or  absolute  jjerfection,  but  as  one  possessing  those  true 
and  real  qualities  which  are  felt  to  be  as  beautiful  as  they  are 
essential  in  the  ministry  of  the  Church  of  Christ. 

And  so  it  was  with  Dr.  Pinkney.  It  was  impossible  to  be  with 
him  in  social  or  ministerial  converse,  or  hear  him  in  sermon  or 
address,  and  not  see  and  feel  the  elevating  and  actuating  prin- 


J 


LIFE    OF    lilSHol'    I'lNKNKV.  177 

i-iples  that  g-overned  liis  life.  It  was  tbis.  along-  with  the  constant 
overflow  of  sweet,  gentle,  loving  sympathy  with  everything  that 
touched  human  needs  and  hopes,  that  gave  to  him  such  a  winning'' 
power  over  all  with  whom  he  was  in  any  way  brought  into  inti- 
mate association. 

Those  who  knew  him,  as  it  were,  only  afar  off,  or  viewed  him 
from  some  stand-point  which,  if  not  alien,  was  yet  so  clouded  with 
obstructions  as  to  hide  from  them  the  true  features  of  his 
character,  could  not  see  and  appreciate  the  very  excellencies  and 
gifts  which  formed  the  substance  and  reality  of  his  l)eing. 

Whatever  prejudices  and  antipathies  he  may  have  had — and  it 
is  by  no  means  claimed  that  he  was  wholly  free  from  them — 
they  grew  out  of  that  stern,  or  even  extreme,  sense  of  duty,  by 
which,  where  principles  are  involved,  and  grave  questions  are  to 
be  determined,  all  conscientious  and  honorable  men  will  be  gov- 
erned. Mistakes  may  be  made,  the  partiality  of  friendshiji  or 
affection  may  mislead,  unconscious  influences  may  unduly  sway 
the  judgment :  all  this  may  be  so,  and  yet  where  a  true  and  noble 
life  in  the  ministry  of  the  Church,  rich  in  its  fruits  of  good  and 
blessing  has  been  lived,  the  just  meed  of  fail'  and  honorable 
praise  may  not  be  withheld. 

Having  made  no  record  of  incidents  and  experiences  in  his 
pastoral  life,  only  a  few  illustrative  incidents  can  be  given.  In 
18G1,  and  during  the  war  troubles,  many  such  incidents  of  touch- 
ing interest  occurred  in  his  experience.  It  was  during  this  period 
that  Dr.  Pinkney  was  brought  by  his  pastoral  office  into  very  close 
converse  and  intimacy  with  one  of  the  most  distinguished  men  of 
the  age,  the  late  General  Walter  Jones,  in  his  last  illness.  Dr. 
PiNKXEY  subsequently  addressed  a  letter  to  the  granddaughters^ 
giving  them  some  account  of  those  pastoral  visits.  The  letter 
w^as  occasioned  by  the  fact  that  some  members  of  the  family  were 
at  the  time  beyond  the  military  lines,  at  the  South,  and  could  not 
be  2:)resent  in  Washington  for  any  ministering  offices  to  the  hon- 
ored relative. 

The  daughter*  of  the  late  Gen.  Walter  Jones  kindly  furnishes 
the  writer  with  the  following  paper,  which  will  serve  as  a  prefatory 
introduction  to  Dr.  Pinkney's  letter  : 

"  It  was  (luring  Dr.  Pinkney's  pastorate  of  Ascension  Clinreb  that  he  came 
in  pastoral  relations  with  the  great  lawyer,  Walter  Jones,  then  residing  with 
his  son-in-law.  Dr.  Thcnnas  Miller,  of  whose  family  the  rector  of  the  .\sceu- 
sion  was  the  beloved  and  venerated  pastor.  The  early  association  at  the  bar 
of  Walter  Jones  with  William  Pinkney,  the  Bishop's  distinguished  uncle, 
with  whom  he  had  broken  many  a  successful  lance,  the  traditional  faniih'' 
friendship,  together  with  the  Bishop's  keen  appreciation  of  that  giant  intel- 
lect, enhanced  the  deep  interest  he  felt  in  the  spiritual  welfare  of  one  who 
had  tasted  all  that  this  world  can  offer  of  wealth,  fame,  and  honor,  and  who 


*Miss  Fanny  Lee  Jones,  Louise  Home,  Washington,  D.  C. 


178  LIFE    OF    BISHOP   PINKNEY. 

with  i^liysical  ijowers  enfeebled  from  suffering,  liut  with  mental  eye  undimmed 
and  mental  vigor  unabated,  was  fast  uearing  the  shores  of  eternity  without 
apparently  having  laid  hold  of  that  anchor  of  the  soul  sure  and  steadfast — 
faith  in  our  dear  Kedeemer.  Walter  Jones  had  had  as  tutor  Mr.  Ogilvie, 
a  Scotchman,  introduced  into  his  father's  family  through  the  influence  of 
President  Jefferson  :  a  man  of  varied  and  fascinating  mental  gifts  and  exten- 
sive learning,  but  who  was  tinctured  with  the  free  thinking  so  prevalent  in 
that  day.  What  influence  Ogilvie's  jjeculiar  views  had  upon  the  mind  of  his 
distinguished  pupil  we  know  not,  but  on  arriving  at  manhood  General  Jones 
Tjecame  a  close  student  of  the  Bible,  searching  the  Scriptures  with  an  avidity 
of  interest  and  a  power  of  analysis  not  always  equalled  by  those  who  make 
its  exegesis  their  profession — seeing  in  Paul  '  a  Spinoza  for  reasoning,'  in 
Jacob  a  swindler,  David  a  sad  and  inexplicable  mystery.  While  rapt  with  the 
sublimity  of  its  poetry  and  prophecy,  yielding  homage  to  the  perfect  law  of 
God  as  the  true  foundation  for  all  human  law,  and,  like  the  angels,  desiring 
to  look  into  the  glorious  mystery  of  the  incarnation,  he  yet  halted,  Ijaffled 
and  confused,  over  those  awful  mysteries  of  God's  word  of  which  the  Eter- 
nal Word  has  declared,  '  not  by  might,  not  by  power,  but  Ijy  My  Spirit,' 
saith  the  Lord,  and  for  years  continued  '  tossed  about  by  many  a  conflict, 
many  a  doubt,'  whilst  in  daily  life  he  exhibited  so  many  Christian  graces  in 
the  exercise  of  benevolence  towards  his  fellow-man  and  forgiveness  of  injuries 
as  might  put  to  shame  many  high-sounding  professors  of  religion.  To  this 
soul  so  reticent,  so  shrinking  from  barring  to  any  human  eye  the  inner  shrine 
of  its  convictions  and  feelings,  the  dear,  good  Bishop  came,  and  by  his  gentle, 
Sj-mpathetic  ministrations  elicited  revelations  that  had  hitherto  remained 
sealed,  and  by  his  judicious  guidance  was  the  means  of  leading  that  great, 
though  hvimble,  spirit  to  embrace  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus ;  so  that  when 
he  felt  the  approach  of  the  last  enemy  he  could  say,  *  I  throw  myself  upon 
my  Creator,  as  an  infant  does  upon  the  breast  of  its  mother.'  He,  upon 
whose  eloquence  eager,  admiring  crowds  had  been  wont  to  hang,  with 
humility  scarce  born  of  the  natural  man,  in  one  of  his  last  convei-sations  with 
the  good  Bishop  declared  that  there  was  no  act  of  his  past  life  that  he  looked 
laack  upon  with  the  least  pride  or  pleasure. 

"  General  Jones  having  been  separated  by  the  crtiel  exigencies  of  the 
Civil  War  from  those  members  of  his  family  with  whom  he  had  made  his 
home,  they  were  deprived  of  what  would  have  been  their  highest  duty  and 
privilege,  ministering  to  his  last  moments,  and  their  application  to  Bishop 
PixKNEY  for  particulars  of  those  scenes  of  supreme  interest  to  them,  drew 
fi'om  him  the  following  letter  : 

"  Washington  City,  October,  1861. 

*'  To  the  Graiiddnunhters  of  General  Walter  Jones. 

"My  Dear  Young  Friends:  It  was  my  privilege  to  visit  your  grand- 
father in  his  last  illness,  and  express  to  him  the  sympathy  I  felt  for  him  in 
the  close  of  his  suffering  and  eventful  life.  His  mind  was  singularly  ele^r 
to  the  last,  and  a  more  remarkable  mind  was  never  encased  in  a  frail  mortal 
body.  I  had  often  been  spell-bound  by  his  majestic  eloquence,  the  vigor 
and  seojje  of  his  logic,  and  the  breadth  and  compass  of  his  imagination,  over 
which  there  was  constantly  playing  the  flashes  of  a  wit  that  nothing  could 
resist.  I  considered  him  one  of  the  first  of  mental  giants  of  his  day ;  the 
last  link  in  a  chain  of  mental  greatness  that  bound  us  to  a  greater  age.  He 
united  in  a  wonderful  degree  the  most  opposite  qualities — brilliancy  and 
depth^and  poured  forth  the  stream  of  his  rich  and  original  thought  in  a 
fluency  not  more  wonderful  for  its  richness  than  its  classic  purity.  You  may 
well  imagine  my  feelings  when  I  was  called  to  see  him  as  a  pastor.  I  felt 
that  I  was  in  the  presence  of  one  who  illumined  every  subject  he  touched, 
•who  saw  deeper  into  a  subject  than  any  other  man  I  had  ever  approached 


1 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY.  179 

in  so  uoiir  ;i  rfliitionshi)),  niid  whose  powers  wt-rt'  not  Wfaki-ncd  l.y  a^,'!-.  I 
felt,  too,  that  the  threat  truths  of  the  Gospel  were  fauiiliarizeil  to  his  niiml 
by  lonij;  study  and  extensive  readiui,'  of  the  Word  of  God,  and  its  ahlest  and 
most  learned  expounders.  But  still  I  had  a  duty  to  perform,  a  duty  that 
my  office  devolved  u])on  me.  I  felt  that  a  poor  worm  of  tlie  dust,  a  sinner 
against  God  was  before  me,  near  the  close  of  a  singularly  brilliant  and 
■eventful  career  so  far  as  this  world  was  concerned.  I  determined,  therefore, 
to  speak  to  him  with  the  directness  and  simi)licity  becoming  my  office,  ami 
told  him  frankly  that  he  was  a  sinner  and  that  as  such  he  must  look  to  Jesus  ; 
that  his  great  gifts  only  rendered  it  the  more  necessary  that  he  should  come 
to  him  as  a  little  child.  He  told  me  that  he  felt  that  he  was  a  sinner:  that 
he  believed  the  Bil)le  to  be  the  Word  of  God  :  that  he  had  not  a  doubt  of  it  ; 
and  that  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  was  the  one  mediator  between  (iod  and  us  ; 
and  that  it  was  only  by  Him  that  we  could  be  saved  from  death  and  hell. 
He  told  me  explicitly  that  he  had  nowhere  to  rest  his  sin-sick  soul  but  in 
the  mercy  of  God  ;  no  merit  to  plead  at  the  mercy-seat ;  that  his  only  ho])e 
was  that  Jesus  died  for  sinners.  I  cannot  pretend  to  give  his  firm  and 
unfaltei'ing  enunciation  of  his  belief  in  these  great  truths  in  his  own  sur- 
l)assiug  eloquence,  for  he  was  as  elocjuent  in  the  feebleness  of  disease  and 
wasting  strength  as  I  had  heard  him  in  his  i)almiest  days.  I  told  him  that 
I  rejoiced  to  hear  this  frank  confession  to  the  truth  of  revelation  and  a])pre- 
ciatiou  of  its  evangelical  doctrines;  but  I  reminded  him  that  our  faith  must 
work,  that  it  must  yield  its  fruits  ;  that  obedience  was  its  crowning  test ; 
that  our  Lord  had  not  only  taiight  us  what  we  must  believe,  but  do  :  that 
He  had  left  on  record  His  dying  command  that  we  shoiild  eat  and  drink  the 
bread  and  wine  of  the  Holy  Eiicharist,  and  feed  by  faith  on  His  body  and 
blood :  to  all  this  he  assented.  He  told  me  that  he  would  think  of  it  and 
prepare  for  it.  Had  his  life  been  spared  a  few  days  longer,  I  hope  that  he 
would  have  celebrated  his  iirst  communion.  In  the  course  of  my  conver- 
sations with  him  I  found  that  his  mind  had  been  rather  singiilarly  exercised 
on  this  subject.  He  repudiated  the  idea  that  the  inconsistence  of  others 
afforded  him  any  sort  of  apology  for  his  neglect  of  whtit  he  confessed  to  me 
was  a  clear  duty  to  be  discharged  by  all.  But  at  the  same  time  he  expressed 
his  ideas  of  the  holy  awe  of  that  first  communion,  and  believing,  as  he  did, 
that  few  men  were  wilful  hypocrites,  he  was  led  to  attribute  their  want  of 
correspondence  with  their  profession  to  the  weakness  of  human  nature.  He 
seemed  to  be  afraid  that  he  would  not  keep  more  faithfiiUy  the  vow  taken, 
and  that  he,  too,  might  be  betrayed  into  its  profanation.  I  told  him  that 
that  sort  of  reasoning  proved  only  the  weakness  of  faith,  and  would  not 
command  the  approval  of  a  mind  so  capable  of  solid  reasoning  as  his,  to 
which  he  at  once  assented.  His  mind  was  evidently  dee])ly  exercised  :  his 
judgment  was  convinced ;  he  did  not  depreciate  the  sacrament :  he  acknowl- 
edged its  transcendent  importance.  I  was  led  to  believe  that  nothing  but 
the  holy  dread  he  had  of  it,  imbibed  in  early  years,  and  confirmed  by  his 
early  training,  induced  him  to  pause,  and  that  he  was  in  a  train  of  prepara- 
tion for  it.  I  never  saw  any  one  who  was  more  free  from  all  sort  of 
sophistical  reasonings  on  the  subject ;  who  was  more  distinct  and  emphatic 
in  his  reliance  on  Christ,  and  on  Him  alone  as  the  one  only  hope  of  the  lost. 
He  felt  and  acknowledged  that  he  was  a  sinner.  He  disclaimed  all  con- 
fidence in  himself,  and  repudiated  the  idea  of  creature  merit  as  the  wildest 
dream  of  the  fancy.  I  went  to  see  him  as  soon  as  I  was  ai)])rised  of  his 
illness.  I  prayed  with  him  and  for  him.  He  thanked  me  with  more  than  his 
accustomed  cordiality.  I  cherish  the  ])leasing  hope  that  if  I  could  have 
seen  him  when  freer  from  pain,  he  would  have  proved  the  integrity  of  his 
faith  by  that  one  great  act  of  obedience.  No  one  ever  held  hypocrisy  in 
greater  dread.  No  one  bore  a  more  willing  testimony  to  the  truth  of  revela- 
tion, or  more  scathingly  denounced  infidelity  in  all  its  phases.  He  revered 
religion,  and  held  in  highest  veneration  its  crowning  mystery,  the  sacrament 


180  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

of  the  Lord's  Slipper.  He  had  a  sincere  dread  of  not  fulfilling  his  plighted 
vow,  and  that  seemed  to  me.  unhappily,  to  cause  him  to  hesitate.  I  never 
saw  him  again,  for  when  I  called  to  see  him  the  day  or  two  afterwards,  I 
found  that  he  had  breathed  his  last.  The  intervening  visit  that  I  i)aid  he 
was  too  much  exhausted  to  see  me.  This  brief  sketch  is  written  for  his 
granddaughters  to  put  them  in  possession  of  what  passed  between  me  and 
their  illustrious  grandfather.  None  are  cast  in  his  mental  mould  in  our 
day  :  few  in  any  day.  And  as  you  were  not  permitted  to  soothe  him  in  the 
dying  agony,  it  has  occurred  to  me  that  you  would  be  gratified  to  learn  what 
I 'heard  fall"  from  his  lips  in  the  hour  Avhen  he  knew  that  his  end  was  near. 
I  attended  his  funeral,  and  read  the  sublime  burial  service  at  his  grave  ;_  and 
never  was  I  more  ijrofoundly  impressed  with  the  vanity  of  all  earthly  things, 
than  when  I  cast  my  eyes  over  the  sympathizing  group  that  gathered  round 
his  bier.  The  elder  members  of  tlie  bar,  who  had  seen  him  when  in  the 
fulness  of  his  strength  he  walked  the  arena,  the  first  among  his  peers,  were 
there  to  pay  the  last  token  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  a  brother  whose 
graces  added  lustre  to  a  profession  that  a  Mansfield  and  a  Marshall  adorned, 
and  whose  eloquence  placed  his  country  on  a  pedestal  that  Kome  and  Greece 
would  not  be  ashamed  to  occupy.  The  younger  members  of  the  bar  were 
there  also,  who  will  cherish  the  stimulus  of  his  fame  as  they  carve  out  for 
themselves  a  memory  that  shall  live  after  them.  The  greatest  living  mind 
had  passed  from  earth.  The  founder  of  the  greatest  philanthropic  enterprise 
of  the  age  (the  American  Colonization  Society)  had  stepped  fi-om  the 
arena  of  his  proudest  achievement  while  the  tones  of  his  eloquence  were 
still  lingering  on  our  ears.  For  it  was  while  his  mortal  remains  were  in  our 
view  that  we  were  recalled  to  contemplate  the  stupendous  monument  of  his 
far-seeing  sagacity  as  a  statesman,  as  a  philanthropist :  his  address  to  Con- 
gress in  behalf  of  the  Colonization  schemes,  and  yet  the  world  moved  on  as 
though  a  feather  had  fallen  from  its  rapidly  revolving  wheels.  His  mortal 
remains  now  rest  beside  his  departed  comrades.  His  simple  profession  of 
belief  in  the  truths  of  Kevelatiou,  and  his  full  confession  of  trust  only  in 
the  Lamb  of  God,  who  was  crucified  for  sinners,  are  the  memories  which  I 
cherish  most.     Earthly  glory  fades ;  but  those  truths  are  eternal. 

"  WILLIAM  PINKNEY." 

There  are  those  who  remember  the  simple  detail  which  he  gave 
of  a  pastoral  visit  to  a  decrepit  old  colored  woman,  a  communi- 
cant of  his  church,  who  was  lying  ill  and  dying  with  the  small- 
pox. "While  ministering  to  her  she  asked  him  to  take  her  hand 
and  hold  it  in  his,  that  she  could  die  the  easier  if  he  did  so. 
For  a  moment,  in  his  quick  view  as  to  what  might  be  the  conse- 
quences, more  for  others  than  himself,  of  his  doing  so,  he  hesi- 
tated, but  only  for  a  moment.  He  calmly  took  her  hand  in  his 
and  held  it  in  his  own  while  the  spirit  was  departing  from  the 
body. 

Another  instance,  (juite  different  from  this  in  the  ^jer.s'o/?neZ  and 
standing  of  the  individual,  was  that  of  his  unfailmg  ministrations 
for  full  three  months  by  the  bedside  of  a  very  dear  friend,*  a 
prominent  lawyer  and  a  vestryman  of  his  church. 

The  residence  was  somewhat  remote,  but  freqvient  were  the 
pastoral  visits  during  the  week ;  and  always  on  Sunday  nights, 
when  the  services  at  the  church  were  over,  he  was  wont  to  go  to 


*  Mr.  AVilliam  J.  Ston. 


I 


LIFE    OF    15ISH01"    I'lXKNEY.  181 

sit  up  and  nurse  the  Hufierer  through   the  long  ni<,dit  watches. 
From  the  bereaved  widow  it  is  learned  that — 

"  Almost  every  day  Dr.  Pinkney  came  to  read  ami  pray  with  my  Inisl.iiii.l. 
His  preseuee  tended  to  soothe  the  j^reat  restlessm-ss  of  "the  sutlcrer.  Just 
the  touch  of  Dr.  Pinkney's  hand  seemed  to  (piict  his  excitement.  Every 
Sunday  night,  without  fail,  after  idl  his  arduous  duties  of  the  day  were  over, 
he  came  and  sat  by  the  l)edside,  administering  medicines  and  food,  taking 
all  charge  and  responsibility  for  that  night  on  himself,  and  never  leaving  the 
room  until  the  sun  arose.  No  words  could  tell  all  he  was  to  us  at  that  time, 
so  gentle  and  quiet,  so  sympathetic,  so  full  of  an.viety  himself,  encouraging 
us  and  yet  fearing  the  worst  all  the  time.  His  very  presence  in  the  house 
was  unspeakable  comfort." 

To  the  memory  of  this  beloved  friend  and  i)arishioner  Dr. 
Pinkney  j^aid  a  just  and  beautiful  tribute  in  the  funeral  address 
he  delivered,  which,  along-  with  commemorative  proceeding-s  by 
the  Bar,  was  subsequently  pul^lished  in  a  pamphlet.  The  follow- 
ing extract  from  the  address  is  given : 

"  And  oh,  when  I  recall  the  tenderness  of  the  jjast,  the  look  of  welcome 
and  the  tone  of  love  that  greeted  me  at  home,  on  the  thoroughfare  of  busi- 
ness, and  the  avenue  of  social  life,  and  then  recall  the  kiss  of  love  he  gave 
as  I  sat  beside  his  suii'ering  couch,  daj'  after  day,  all  too  sad  that  I  could  not 
indulge  the  hope  that  he  woiild  be  raised  up  again.  I  am  without  words  to 
tell  you  what  I  found  in  him  of  the  sweets  of  friendship.  *  *  *  i  leave 
you  to  di'aw  the  picture  of  oiir  sleeping  brother  as  a  friend,  while  I  must  rest 
contented  that  he  lies  all  i;ndescribed  in  the  fi'amework  of  my  own  sad 
heart.  As  a  counsellor  of  the  church  he  was  wise,  conservative,  and  just, 
a  man  to  be  trusted,  safe  in  counsel  and  steadfast  in  priuci])le.  I  knew  no 
man  who,  in  difficult  cases,  was  his  superior  in  that  particular  department. 
As  a  vesti-yman  his  place  cannot  be  supplied.  He  took  a  lively  interest  in 
all  that  contrilmted  to  the  church's  growth  and  advancement,  loved  to 
beautify  it  for  all  the  high  festivals,  and  with  his  own  hands  festooned  the 
pidpit  on  Whit-Sunday  with  a  taste  that  I  have  never  seen  equalled.  His 
money  was  always  liberally  bestowed  in  charity,  and  our  beautifiil  com- 
munion set  is  the  device  of  his  own  devout  taste— the  cross  inwrought  in 
gold  in  solid  form,  and  standing  out  all  so  beautifully.  *  *  *  \  fe^Y 
liours  before  he  died  I  read  to  him  that  sweetest  of  all  our  hymns.  •  Jesus, 
Saviour  of  my  soul,'  and  prayed  with  him  ;  and  while  in  the  act  of  prayer  he 
opened  his  eyes  ftiU  upon  me,  all  so  eloquent  of  love,  as  clear  and  calm  as 
in  his  brightest  living  hour.  He  now  sleeps,  and  you  and  I  are  here  to  bear 
him  to  his  long,  last  home.  We  will  bear  him  gently,  with  hushed  heart 
and  tearful  eye,  for  we  loved  him:  and  we  will  keej)  his  memory  freshly 
watered  by  our  tears  until  our  feet  tovich  the  borders  of  the  river  and  our 
bodies  rest  beside  him  in  hope." 

Whenever  any  member  of  his  cure  was  going  away,  though  to 
"be  absent  only  for  a  season,  there  was  always  the  ])arting  farewell 
between  them,  perhaps  some  little  book  or  token  given  :  and  some 
pleasant  letter  of  remembrance  and  counsel  was  sure  to  follow. 

Of  many  such  letters,  these  may  suffice  to  show  how  tenderly 
the  absent  ones  w^ere  remembered  : 

''  To  MissMcC. 

"  April  20,  1857. 

"  My  Dear  A :  I  was  very  glad  to  hear  that  you  had  reached  S iu 

^afety  and  without  fatigue  :  and  I  hope  you  will  enjoy  the  jn-ivilege  of  being 


182  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

with  the  friends  of  your  dear  mother.     I  felt  sorry  to  bid  you  good-bye  on 
so  long  a  journey  and  for  so  long  a  time  ;  for  although  I  see  very  little  of 
you,  the  recollection  of  your  now  sainted  mother,  whom  I  watched  during 
many  days  of  suffering,  has  always  tended  to  keep  alive  my  interest  in  her- 
children. 

"  You  will  see  much  to  amuse  and  instruct  you  in  the  new  scenes  around 
you  ;  and  I  am  sure  everything  will  be  done  by  your  aunt  to  make  your  time 
pass  pleasantly  and  profitably  during  your  stay.  Travel,  if  rightly  improved, 
is  not  more  interesting  than  it  is  instructive  :  and,  my  dear  child,  you  must 
endeavor  to  combine  the  two  in  your  present  visit,  and  return  to  us  every 
way  benefited  by  the  trip.  I  trust  that  you  give  some  time  each  day  for 
the  cultivation  of  yoi;r  mind.  Study  and  reading  ought  to  constitute  a  part 
of  the  employment  of  everybody  :  and  as  your  dear  father  gave  you  all  the 
advantage  of  a  liberal  education,  I  hope  you  will  go  on  tg  acquire  knowledge 
and  keep  your  mental  faculties  bright  and  vigorous.  *  *  *  The  idea 
that  knowledge  was  necessary  for  man  only,  and  that  mental  culture  was  his 
especial  prerogative  was  a  splendid  fallacy  of  the  logic  of  our  fathers.  We 
have  lived  to  see  that  it  is  not  less  essential  for  woman,  and  in  many  cases 
far  more  prolific  of  lasting  good.  For  woman  moulds  the  rugged  nature  of 
our  lordly  race. 

' '  I  need  not  say  that  you  must  be  careful  to  watch  over  and  guard  the  heart, 
for  that  /iccd.s  even  more  painful  cultxire  than  the  mind.  Y'ou  are  professedly 
GOD'S  child.  I  trust  you  are  so  renlly.  As  a  member  of  His  Church  you 
must  strive  to  walk  before  Him  in  humility  and  meekness  of  soul.  To  do 
this  you  must  be  much  nlmie  with  Him  in  private  prayer  and  the  study  of 
His  Word  and  meditation  upon  it  day  by  day.  Y"ou  must  guard  against  the 
influence  of  worldly  company,  for  nothing  affects  us  as  associations.  Y'^ou 
must  never  forget  that  you  are  called  upon  to  walk  in  the  footprints  of 
Jesus,  our  blessed  LORD  and  Saviour.  The  little  book  I  gave  you  is  of 
priceless  value  in  this  respect.  It  is  one  of  the  best  aids  to  a  godly  life. 
Y'ou  will  read  it  for  my  sake,  and  strive  to  profit  by  its  godly  counsellings. 
The  Bible  and  the  prayer-book  you  will  make  your  daily  study — I  say  study, 

for,  my  dear  A ,  reading  the  word  of  GOD  will  not  suffice.     We  must 

read  it  closely,  with  undivided  attention,  with  self-api^lying  honesty,  with 
faithful  jjrayer,  or  we  shall  not  read  it  to  jDrofit,  and  such  reading  is  study. 
The  baptismal  office  and  the  confirmation  and  communion  offices  you  will 
often  peruse,  for  they  are  a  beautiful  and  most  admirable  chart  of  the  voyage 
of  life.  Excuse  me  for  these  earnest  words.  I  am  not  in  the  way  of  collect- 
ing news,  and  therefore  my  letter  will  be  wholly  destitute  of  that  most 
attractive  feature. 

*'  Poor  Mary  G is  still  very  sick.     My  heart  bleeds  for  her,  that  one 

so  young  and  who  seems  to  be  so  willing  to  live  and  toil  for  others  should  be 
so  afflicted  in  her  youth  is  sad  when  viewed  from  the  low  stand-point  of  earth. 
But  GOD  in  His  goodness  so  ordei's  it,  and  that  makes  it  all  right. 

'•  I  must  now  bid  you  good-bye.  May  GOD  bless  and  keep  yoii  and  make 
you  more  and  more  like  Him.  May  He  sanctify  all  your  little  trials  and  give 
you  to  see  that  life  is  only  rightly  spent  when  it  points  and  leads  to  Him. 
I  .shall  be  glad  to  welcome  you  back  again.  Remember  me  to  your  aunt, 
for,  although  1  do  not  know  her,  I  feel  that  she  will  not  esteem  me  as  a 
stranger,  seeing  it  was  my  privilege  to  keep  watch  by  your  dear  mother 
when  she  passed  through  the  dark  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death.  Her  mem- 
ory is  still  fresh  in  my  recollection. 

"  Y'our  attached  friend, 

••WILLIAM  PINKNEY." 

In  connection  with  his  pastoral  work  and  very  early  in  his 
ministry  in  the  Ascension  Dr.  Pixkney  felt  the  need  of  calling  to 
his  assistance  the  valuable  agency  of  woman.     At  that  period 


LIFE    OF   lilSHOP    I'lNKNEY.  183 

there  existed  no  such  <,^eneral  and  eftVctivc  nu'iisuros  for  the 
organization  of  woman's  work  in  the  Cliurcli  us  liave  shice  been 
so  extensively  carried  out  in  Germany  and  England  and  in  this 
country.  Since  then  the  Order  of  Deaconesses  has  Ijeen  revived, 
Sisterhoods  have  been  established,  and  recently  the  Woman's  Aux- 
iliar}',  with  its  branches  in  all  the  dioceses,  has  grown  in  its  work 
and  in  its  tield  to  immense  proportions  of  usefulness.  All  of  these 
are  voluntary  associations  ;  for  the  general  Church  has  been  slow 
to  legislate  upon  such  agencies,  all-imi)ortant  as  they  are  for  the 
great  work  of  Church  help  and  Chiu-ch  extension.  Upon  his  own 
responsibility  as  Bishop,  Bishop  Whittingham,  as  early  as  1858, 
set  apart,  with  appropriate  services,  as  the  first  deaconess  of  the 
diocese,  to  be  under  his  especial  jurisdiction,  Mrs.  Adeline  Blanch- 
ard  Tyler,  commonly  called  "  Sister  Tyler,"  a  lady  pre-eminent 
in  those  qualities  most  needed  for  such  benevolent  work.  Under 
her  management  and  with  the  help  of  the  then  rector  of  St. 
Anch-ew's  Church,  Baltimore,  she  established  "  St.  Andrew's  In- 
tirmar}',"'  which  was  afterwards  merged  in  the  present  Church 
Home,  since  become  one  of  the  most  valuable  and  excellent  of  our 
Church  institutions. 

But  at  the  period  referred  to  very  little  had  been  done  by  the 
Church  in  bringing  into  practical  utility  the  services  of  woman 
Avith  her  gifts,  her  powers,  and  her  wonderful  adaptedness  for  all 
parochial,  eleemosynary,  and  general  mission  work. 

The  rector  of  the  Ascension  lost  no  time  in  organizing  in  his 
parish  an  organization  of  women  to  be  his  helpers  in  the  church. 
The  society  formed  towards  the  close  of  18G1  was  first  called  ''  The 
Dorcas  Association  of  the  Ascension  Parish,"  and  had  for  its  aim 
three  objects — a  sewing  circle,  a  mission  school,  and  a  Sunday- 
school.  The  name  was  subsequently  changed  to  that  of  "  The 
Ladies'  Association,"  and  its  work  and  its  resources  for  work  be- 
came greatly  enlarged,  and  it  was  soon  able  to  render  the  rector 
the  most  efficient  help.  The  great  l)ody  of  the  ladies  of  the  parish 
connected  themselves  with  the  association.  The  rector  was  made 
the  president ;  and  he  was  careful  to  be  always  present  at  the 
monthly  meetings.  Each  member  contiibuted  a  certain  sum 
annually,  engaged  to  do  certain  w^ork  and  to  solicit  aid  for  the 
objects  of  the  association.  Festivals  for  raising  funds  for  some 
special  enterprise  were  occasionally  held,  and  a  series  of  literary 
entertainments  were  conducted  for  a  time  and  resulted  in  liberal 
voluntary  offerings.  The  ladies  of  the  association  engaged  heart- 
ily in  their  work,  and  were  always  ready  to  undertake  and  carry 
on  any  measures  laid  before  them  by  their  rector,  between  whom 
and  themselves  the  most  tender  relations  existed. 

Two  items  will  suffice  to  show  what  they  were  domg  outside 
of  parochial  work.  In  18()7  they  provided  for  the  sui)i)ort  of  one 
orphan  and  of  a  candidate  for  the  holy  ministry,  to  the  amount  of 


184  LIFE    OF    BISHOr    FINKNEY. 

$300  ;  and  in  1868  they  contributed  to  the  work  which  the  Rev. 
Dr.  A.  Toomer  Porter  was  carrying-  on  in  South  Carolina,  a  like 
sum  of  $300. 

It  may  be  here  remarked  that  Dr.  Pinkney,  during  the  whole 
of  his  rectorship  of  the  Ascension,  i)ro"\ided  annually  for  the  full 
support  of  one  candidate  for  the  holy  ministry,  while  prosecuting 
theological  studies,  sending  donations  for  that  purpose  to  one  of 
the  Western  bishops. 

Among  the  good  works  which  the  Ladies'  Association  sought 
and  helped  to  accomplish  was  that  which,  in  union  with  the  parish 
of  the  Ei)iphany,  resulted  in  the  organization  of  the  parish  of 
''  The  Incarnation "'  in  "Washington,  which  has  since  grown  to  be 
one  of  the  most  flourishing  in  the  city.  This  work  was  origi- 
nated and  promoted  by  the  fostering  care  of  the  convocation  of 
"Washington,  which  then  was  a  strictly  volimtary  organization 
formed  by  the  clergy  of  the  city  and  District  of  Columbia  for 
Church  extension  within  those  limits.  The  rectors  of  the  Epij)h- 
any  and  Ascension  parishes  took  especial  interest  in  this  work ; 
and  in  1867  the  Rev.  Mr.  Lowrie,  who  had  been  acting  as  assistant 
minister  in  Ascension  parish,  resigned  that  position  and  engaged 
as  missionary,  under  the  ecclesiastical  authority  of  the  diocese, 
for  the  organization  of  the  new  church  which  was  established  as 
the  j^arish  of  "  The  Incarnation,"  with  its  metes  and  bounds,  by 
the  convention  of  1868. 

When  the  work  of  erecting  a  new  parish  church  was  entered 
upon,  and  while  that  work  was  going  on,  and  afterwards  when, 
under  a  heavy  debt,  it  was  completed,  the  Ladies'  Association,  in 
unison  with  the  Bishoj:),  the  Associate  Rector,  and  the  vestry  and 
congregation,  rendered  most  efficient  and  successful  aid. 

The  Ladies' Association  still  continues  its  good  and  noble  work 
in  the  parish  of  the  Ascension,  and  the  j^resent  rector,  no  doubt, 
finds  it  as  helpful  as.  it  was  in  the  days  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pixkxey's 
rectorship. 

The  Sunday-school  work  which  Dr.  Pinkxey  carried  on  formed, 
also,  an  imi:)ortant  part  in  his  parochial  administration.  The  in- 
terest which  he  felt  and  manifested  in  many  ways  in  behalf  of 
young  children  and  the  youth  of  both  sexes  marked  a  beautiful 
feature  in  his  character  and  parish  life.  He  always  had  a  well- 
organized  and  i)rosperous  Sunday-school  in  his  parish.  For  many 
years  the  late  Mr.  John  M.  Duncanson  was  the  efficient  superin- 
tendent, and  a  corps  of  competent  teachers,  both  male  and  female, 
members  of  the  congregation,  were  zealous  helpers  in  the  work. 
Dr.  PiNKXEY  made  it  a  rule  to  be  present  either  at  the  opening  or 
closing  religious  exercises  of  the  school,  and  whenever  present 
would  go  from  class  to  class  with  some  gentle  Avords  of  counsel 
and  encouragement  to  both  teachers  and  'pui)ils.  In  this  way  he 
came  to  know  \vell  all  the  scholars,  and  from  those  among  them 


LIFE    OF    lilSJiol'    I'lNKNKY.  185 

who  were  older  iuul  more  iidvjinced  drew  the  cjitecliuiMeus  to 
receive  his  speciid  iustruetions  for  coiitii'iuiitioii. 

Nothing  eoiihl  hiive  been  more  pheasant  and  harmonious  than 
was  the  unison  of  pastor  and  teachers  in  tlie  work  of  h-athng  the 
youn<^-  to  Christ  and  to  the  communion  of  the  Church.  And  when 
they  were  confirmed  and  became  communicants  he  did  not  h)He 
si^ht  of  them,  for  they  Avere  sure  to  receive  from  time  to  time 
some  Httle  note  or  token  of  pastoral  interest  and  remend)rance. 

The  following  letter,  from  the  incident  that  called  it  forth. 
is  very  beautifully  illustrative  of  the  warm  and  tender  feelings 
reciprocally  existing-  between  himself  and  the  scholars  of  bis 
Sunday-school : 

"  Letter  of  lie  v.  William  Pinkney,  D.D.,  to  the  ScholavK  uf  the  Ancenifion 
Ch  urch  Sunday-school. 

''  A  very  bfiiutitul  carriuge,  harness,  &c.,were  preseuted  by  tlif  cbildreu  of 
the  Sunday-school  to  the  liev.  W.  Piukney,  of  the  Ascension,  accompanied 
by  a  letter  expressive  of  their  k^ve.  This  caiTiage  was  sent  on  from  New- 
York  in  the  steamer  Empire,  which  was  ice-bound  in  the  Potomac.  The 
accompanying  letter  was  received  by  the  children  from  their  pastor,  and  is 
now  printed  by  them  : 

'' '  My  Dear  Children  :  Your  beautiful  note — I  must  call  it  beautiful,  for 
it  is  full  of  thoughts  that  are  not  less  happily  conceived  than  expressed — I 
repeat,  yoiir  beautiful  note  took  me  wholly  by  surprise.  It  is  in  itself  a  gem 
which  I  would  set  in  a  framework  of  gold  and  retain  as  the  brightest  and 
sweetest  that  has  ever  crowned  a  ministry  of  love,  exercised  in  much  fear 
and  trembling.  To  win  a  smile  tVom  you,  to  know  that  y(  lur  hearts  are  mine, 
and  that  you  look  with  so  much  tenderness  and  sympathy  uj)on  the  few 
feeble  eli'orts  I  have  made  to  lead  you  tcj  the  Rock  that  is  higher  than  you, 
is  the  richest  solace  of  a  heart  that  is  often  sad.  There  is  an  eloquence  in 
your  w(n-ds  which  I  wish  I  could  ho})e  to  rival.  As  it  is.  all  that  I  can 
expect  to  equal  is  the  eloquence  of  ycnir  feeling.  Your  gift  is  not  more  lieauti- 
ful  than  it  is  appropriate,  and  the  selfishness  of  the  choice  is  that  only  form 
of  selfishness  which  denotes  a  heart  that  beats  with  noblest  symjjathy.  You 
have  woven  many  cords  around  my  heart,  and  n(nv,  with  loving  hands,  you 
seek  to  weave  another  around  one  who  will  love  you  as  tenderly  and  delight 
in  giving  Ijack  love  for  love.  The  ice  of  this  Christinastide  stands  between 
me  and  your  precious  gift.  But  no  iceberg  floats  in  that  warm  region  of  the 
heart  which  divides  us  from  each  other.  The  Empire  you  have  fi-eighted 
with  your  love  may  be  ice-bound  in  the  Potomac,  but  the  empire  you  have. 
by  your  docility,  gentleness,  and  affection,  succeeded  in  establishing  in  my 
heart,  is  an  empire  of  soft  skies  and  balmy  breezes.  To  me  Christmas  comes 
with  something  of  sadness,  for  I  bear  a  pilgrim  staff  and  must  travel  on  in 
the  consciousness  that  I  have  lost  much  time  and  wasted  many  precious 
gifts.  To  you  it  dawns  in  hope  and  is  radiant  with  beauty.  If  I  couhl  I 
would  retain  all  the  freshness  and  holy  joy  it  awakens  for  you,  and  with 
flowers,  gathered  in  the  early  dew,  strew  your  pathway  all  through  the  year 
until  the  next  Christmas  greetings  meet  you.  My  children,  you  remember 
who  took  little  children  in  His  arms,  and,  blessing  them,  said,  "  Of  such  is  the 
Kingdom  of  Heaven."  The  Manger  and  the  Cross  are  ycuirs:  and,  oh.'  if 
you  only  seek  a  hiding-place  in  His  bosom,  and  wait  to  catch  His  voice  as  it 
comes  floating  over  the  hills  and  valleys  of  the  past,  and  obediently  fi>llow 
in  His  steps,  you  will  find  Christmas  and  Easter  bright  with  joy  each  swiftly 


186  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

passing  year.  A  tear  may  gather  on  your  eyelids,  but  it  will  be  transmuted 
into  the  diamond  of  faith,  and  only  make  more  resplendent  the  future 
crown.  You  remember  who  it  was  that  mounted  heavenward  on  a  chariot 
of  fire,  and  although  you  and  I  must  walk  at  last  through  the  valley  of  the 
shadow  of  death,  there  is  a  chariot  of  love  which  may  bear  us  up,  and  that 
chariot  may  never  be  ice-bound.  We  look  for  the  tioating  pennant  of  the 
Empire,  with  the  bill  of  lading,  the  security  that  we  shall  not  look  in  vain— 
vou,  in  the  sweet  consciousness  that  you  have  touched  your  pastor's  heart 
to  the  quick,  I,  in  the  sad  consciousness  that  I  so  little  merit  your  thought- 
fulness  and  yoiar  love.  But  your  empire  is  not  on  the  floating  waves  or  the 
chill  waters,  but  in  the  heart  firmly  established.  It  is  the  empire  of  child- 
hood, the  jewel  of  the  Saviour's  household,  whose  sway  is  the  rule  of  win- 
ning arts  and  the  heart's  magnetic  touch. 

"  '  Mrs.  Pinkney  joins  me  in  thanks  for  your  munificent  offering.  She  will 
use  it,  and  nothing  will  give  her  more  pleasure  than  the  jirivilege  of  some- 
times coming  to  see  you  and  exchanging  with  you  the  greetings  of  the 
seasons. 

"  *  "\Ve  each  wish  you  a  happy  Christmas,  and  many,  many  returns  of  the 
season. 

"  '  Y'our  affectionate  pastor, 

"  '  WILLIAM  PINKNEY. 

"  '  Decembek  25,  1867.'  " 

So  important  did  he  regard  the  Sunday-school  in  its  true  place 
and  sphere  in  connection  with,  and  under  control  of,  the  Church 
that  subsequently  and  very  early  in  his  Episcopate  he  took  occa- 
sion to  present,  in  a  charge  to  the  Convocation  of  Washington,  a 
very  full  and  strong  ^dew  of  the  need  and  the  work  of  the  Sunday- 
school  in  fvilfilling  the  mission  of  the  Church.  That  charge  was 
published,  and  its  wise  words  and  salutary  counsels  deserve  to  be 
remembered  and  cherished. 

The  following  extract  is  given  : 

••  Y'ou  perceive,  then,  that  the  Sunday-school  is  a  power  only  in  so  far  as 
it  finds  its  real  headship  in  the  pastor  of  the  fold :  its  system  of  instruction 
in  the  creeds  and  the  pure  word  of  GOD  :  its  helpei'S  in  the  wisest,  most 
earnest,  and  magnetic  of  the  young  and  the  more  advanced  ;  is  used  by 
parents  as  a  help  and  not  a  substitute,  and  is  not  allowed  to  take  the  place 
of  the  regular  Sunday  worship.  If  this  be  so,  do  you  not  perceive  how  vast 
is  the  responsibility,  how  intense  the  labor,  how  aiigust  the  privilege  that 
are  pressing  on  the  heart  and  conscience  of  all  those  who  seek  to  share  its 
honors  and  its  glorious  self-sacrifice  ?" 

So,  too,  as  regards  the  divme  ordainment  of  the  family,  in  its 
relation  alike  to  the  Church  and  the  State,  he  saw  clearly  that  the 
foundations  of  religious  instruction,  training,  and  culture,  were 
to  be  laid  in  the  hallowed  cu-cle  of  the  home  by  parents  realizing 
their  responsibilities  and  fulfilling  their  duties.  This  subject  he 
frequently  brought  liefore  his  jjcople  in  very  earnest  dis- 
courses upon  the  family  and  the  home.  A  single  extract  from  a 
sermon  on  '•  Showing  Piety  at  Home,"  which  he  preached  on 
several  occasions  and  which  was  afterwards  published,  will  show 
with  what  glowing  feeling  he  covild  picture  a  happy  Christian 
home : 


LIFE    OF    lUSHOP    I'INKNKV.  187 

"  But  yt>t  a<,'iiin  I  si'c  iinotlu'i- iiiul  a  (liflVi-fnt  sfc-uc  It  is  tin- sweet  iiiul 
sulxluiu^' exliihilion  of  pit'ty  at  hmne;  where  the  love  of  (K  )1)  wells  up  in 
the  heart,  and  j^'oes  forth  in  j^entU' streams  to  enrich  and  fertilize  otlier  hearts 
that  beat  so  near  its  own — where  a  family  altar  is  reared  and  the  ha])i)V 
household  is  fj;athered  in  weepin^^  wonder  around  it  :  where  the  little  hamls 
are  folded  and  the  little  knees  are  bowed  in  prayer  :  where  a  father's  ^gentle- 
ness is  minified  with  a  mother's  tenderness  as  the  story  of  the  eross  is  dee]) 
inijjrinted  on  the  heart,  and  heaven  is  opened  to  the  j<aze  of  chihlhood  witli 
its  pearly  i,'ates  and  its  golden  pavement:  where  the  liours  not  consumi-il  in 
the  business  of  earth  art^  sj)ent  in  forminj^  the  soul  and  j)repiirin^  it  for  the 
double  duties,  the  duties  of  the  world  that  is,  and  the  world  that  is  to  come  : 
where  home  is  made  the  nursery  of  a  livint;  faith  and  the  abode  of  (piietness 
and  peace,  over  which  are  constantly  <^atherinLC  the  rays  of  the  sun  of  right- 
eousness, and  within  which  there  is  the  l)eaiitiful  type  of  heaven  :  and  my 
prayer  to  God  is.  that  such  homes  may  be  multiplied,  and  that  such  scenes 
of  an  earnest  home  piety  may  be  often  re-euaeted." 

In  connection  with  home  nurtui'c  and  Sunday-school  tfaining 
he  took  a  deep  interest  in  all  educational  instittitions  that  wei'e 
more  or  less  under  Church  intiuence  and  control.  For  many 
years  and  up  to  the  close  of  his  life,  oitt  of  his  own  very  moderate 
income,  he  was  in  the  habit  of  sending  to  a  number  of  schools  and 
colleges  costly  gold  medals  to  be  awarded  for  excellence  in 
deportment  and  proficiency  in  study.  For  a  long  period,  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  he  was  an  influential  and  active  member  of 
the  board  of  visitors  and  governors  of  his  Alma  Mater,  and  never 
failed  to  attend  their  meetings  and  the  college  commencements. 

The  services  of  his  church  in  the  public  worship  were  always 
conducted  with  scrupulous  regard  to  rubrical  requu-ements,  were 
very  impressively  rendered,  and  in  the  musical  portions  were  full 
of  hearty  animation  and  solemnity. 

He  was  fortunate  in  securing  and  for  a  number  of  years  in 
retaining  as  his  organist  *  a  young  man  of  very  remarkable 
musical  talents,  who  possessed  alike  a  master's  skill  in  the  use  of 
the  instrument  and  a  thorough  practical  knowledge  of  its  whole 
internal  mechanism  and  structure. 

His  choir  was  for  the  most  part  and  almost  exclusively  com- 
posed of  volunteer  singers  from  the  members  of  the  congregation  ; 
and  any  worshipper  would  have  been  struck  with  the  earnestness 
and  superior  excellence  of  the  music. 


*  Prof.  Geo.  W.  Walter. 


188  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Election  and  Consecration.     1869-'70. 

Bishop  Whittixgham's  health,  after  the  War,  continued  to  grow- 
more  and  more  feeble — so  much  so  that  neither  rest  nor  a  sea- 
voyage  brought  any  permanent  relief.  It  became  year  by  year 
increasingly  apparent  to  the  Bishop  himself  and  to  the  diocese 
that  it  was  hopeless  to  look  for  any  such  restoration  as  would 
enable  him  to  discharge  the  active  duties  of  the  episcopate. 

The  setting  off  of  the  Eastern  Shore  as  a  separate  diocese, 
which  was  consummated  in  the  Diocesan  and  General  Conventions 
held  in  1868,  only  gave  relief  to  that  part  so  formed  into  an  inde- 
l^endent  jurisdiction.  Nothwithstandiug  the  separation  of  Eastou 
as  a  diocese,  the  matter  of  still  further  division  continued  to  be 
agitated.  It  came  up  in  the  Conventions  of  1867  and  1868.  Com- 
mittees were  appointed  and  re2:)orted  about  it.  There  were  those, 
not  many,  in  the  convention,  most  anxious  and  persistent  to  bring 
about  the  separation  of  the  District  of  Columbia  as  a  diocese, 
with  or  without  the  annexation  of  some  of  the  counties  in  Mary- 
land. The  question,  however,  was  at  last  brought  to  the  test  by 
a  resolution,  in  1868,  of  Mr.  A.  B.  Davis  for  the  appointment  of 
a  committee  to  addi'ess  "  a  circular  and  queries  to  all  the  clergy 
and  vestries  "  to  ascertain  the  feeling  and  wishes  in  regard  to  fur- 
ther division.  This  committee  reported  to  the  Convention  of 
1869  that  the  responses  to  the  circular  and  queries  were  so  few 
and  so  unsatisfactory  that  they  asked  to  be  discharged,  and  the 
movement  was  for  the  time  dropped. 

It  was  afterwards  revived  under  a  somewhat  different  phase 
when  an  Assistant  Bishop  had  been  elected. 

Soon  after  the  complete  organization  of  the  Diocese  of  Easton, 
with  its  Bishop,  some  measures  for  a  federate  union  of  Maryland 
with  Easton,  for  the  common  interests  of  both  dioceses,  were  intro- 
duced into  their  respective  conventions,  and  special  committees 
were  appointed  to  confer  upon  the  matter.  It  was  thought  by 
some  in  Maryland  that  if  some  such  measures  were  carried,  the 
Bishop  of  Easton.  haA^ng  the  charge  of  a  small  diocese,  could 
easily  come  over  to  the  "Western  Shore  of  Maryland  to  render  svich 
Episcopal  services  as  the  Bishop  of  Maryland  might  need,  and,  by 
thus  relieving  Bishop  "Whittingham.  satisfy  the  steadily  increas- 
ing desire  for  the  services  of  an  Assistant  Bishop.  There  were 
those  in  Maryland  who  earnestl}'  desired  and  strenuously  sought 


1 


LIFE    OF    UISHOP    IMNKNEY.  IS'.J 

to  fonsninmate  this  incisure  of  a  I'ederati'  union.  It  crcatcil  no 
little  dissension  and  discussion. 

AVlien  the  Convention  met  in  Baltimore  on  the  20th  of  ]\Iay. 
1809,  a  committee  of  three  clergymen  and  two  laymen  was 
ai)pointed  early  in  the  session  "  to  confer  with  the  committee  from 
the  Diocese  of  Easton  "  up(m  the  subject,  the  members  of  which 
Easton  committee  were  known  to  be  i)resent  for  such  conference. 
On  the  third  day  of  the  session  this  committee  reported  and 
recommended  the  adoption  of  the  following  resolution,  which 
was  passed : 

"  liexolrcd.  That  a  Committee  of  three  clergymen  iiml  two  laymen  lie 
appointed  by  this  Convention  to  meet  a  similar  Committei'  appointed  or  to 
be  appointed  by  the  Convention  of  the  Dioeese  of  Easton,  to  mature  a  projier 
plan  for  the  organization  (jf  a  Federate  Convention  of  the  two  Dioceses,  and 
for  the  promotion  of  Church  Extension  in  this  State,  and  to  report  to  the 
next  Convention  of  the  Diocese  of  Maryland,  and  that  the  Bishop  of  Mary- 
laud  be  t'.v  ojfic/'o  Chairman  of  the  said  Ccnumittee." 

At  the  next  convention  (1870)  there  were  presented  fj-om  that 
committee  two  reports  ;  a  majority  report  favoring  such  Federate 
Convention,  and  setting  forth  the  objects  contemplated  and 
sought  to  be  effected  by  its  organization.     It  was  as  follows : 

"  In  accordance  with  the  votes  of  the  Dioceses  of  Maryland  and  Easton, 
instructing  the  Joint  Committee  on  the  Federate  Council  to  send  to  each 
Rector  and  Vestry  a  copy  of  their  report  on  or  Ijefore  the  tirst  day  of  May, 
A.  D.  1870,  the  Committee  hereby  announces  that  it  will  recommend  to  the 
two  Conventions  the  following  preamble  and  resoli;tions  for  adoption,  to 
wit  : 

"  Wheeeas,  There  are  now  constituted,  within  the  limits  of  the  State 
of  Maryland,  two  organized  Dioceses,  thus  making  it  necessary  to  secure, 
from  time  to  time,  legislative  enactments  affecting  the  common  interests  of 
the  Church  in  this  State  ;  and 

•'  Whereas,  It  is  greatly  to  be  desired  that  the  bonds  of  unity  and  fraternal 
love  should  be  preserved  unbroken  between  the  two  Dioceses,  and  cordial 
co-operation  be  secured  in  all  matters  touching  common  welfare  :  therefore, 

'•  Eexolved,  That  there  shall  be  elected  for  this  Diocese,  at  this,  and  every 
succeeding  Convention,   five  clerical  and    five  lay  delegates,   who,  with  a 

similar  delegation  from  the  Diocese  of  * ,  together  with  the  Bishoi)s 

of  the  Dioceses  concerned,  shall  be  a  Federate  Convention  of  the  Dioceses  in 
Maryland. 

''Resoh'ed,  That  the  Senior  Bishop  shall  preside,  and  shall,  from  tilne  to 
time,  appoint  the  time  and  place  of  meeting  of  the  Federate  Convention. 
He  may  convene  it,  of  his  own  motion,  when  he  shall  deem  it  expedient ; 
and  it  "shall  be  his  duty  to  convene  it  when  retiuested  by  the  other  Bishop, 
or  by  a  vote  of  a  Diocesan  Convention. 

''Resolved,  That  the  said  Federate  Convention  shall  have  power  to 
deliberate  about  all  matters  of  interest  common  to  the  two  Dioceses,  and  to 
offer  recommendations  to  the  Diocesan  Conventions  :  and  it  is  expressly 
authorized  to  take  such  determinate  action  as  it  may  deem  necessary  to  secure 
such  legislative  enactments  as  the  common  interests  of  the  Church  in  the- 


*  Insert  Maryhmd  or  Easton,  as  the  case  may  be. 


190  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

State  may  require  ;  and  all  its  actions  and  proceedings  shall  be  made  known 
to  the  next  succeeding  Annual  Convention. 

'■'■  Resohed,  That  the  said  Federate  Convention  shall  be  empowered  to  act 
whenever  the  concurrence  of  the  two  Dioceses,  in  the  passage  of  these 
resolutions,  shall  be  dulv  certified  to  the  respective  Bishops. 

'^Atte^it:  '         (Signed)  JOHN  YAUGHAN  LEWIS. 

"  Secretary  of  the  Joint  Committee. 
■"  Baltimore,  Md.,  Enster  Monday,  1870." 

The  minority  report  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Addison  was  not  printed 
in  the  journal,  but  it  is  stated  to  have  contained  such  strong  and 
conckisive  arguments  against  any  action  in  the  matter  that  after 
considerable  debate  both  reports,  together  vs'ith  the  resolutions 
appended  to  them,  were  upon  motion,  "  postponed  until  the  next 
annual  convention,"  which  was  considered  as  equivalent  to  an 
inde/inite  postponement,  as  the  matter  of  the  election  of  an  Assist- 
ant Bishop  was  known  to  be  then  pending — as  we  shall  see — 
before  the  convention,  and  on  its  consummation  would  remove 
all  necessity  or  occasion  for  any  Federate  Convention  so  far  as 
the  sujjply  of  relief  in  Episcopal  services  for  the  Diocese  of  Mary- 
land was  concerned.  No  subsequent  movements  were  made  to 
revive  this  measure. 

All  efforts  for  further  diocesan  division  failing  and  no  actual  and 
advantageous  relief  to  come  from  any  Federate  Convention,  even  if 
successfully  organized,  the  mind  of  the  Church  in  the  diocese  was 
the  more  turned  to  secure  that  relief  which  the  canons  provide  in 
the  case  of  a  Bishop's  disability  by  the  election  of  an  Assistant 
Bishop.  But  no  movement  in  that  direction  could  be  made  except 
under  the  request  and  approval  of  the  diocesan. 

The  reluctance  of  Bishop  Whittuigham  to  desire  and  ask  relief 
by  an  Assistant  Bishop  is  well  known.  It  is  also  well  known  that 
under  his  constantly  increasmg  infirmities  of  health  and  the  appar- 
ent hopelessness  of  any  permanent  restoration,  he  at  one  time 
entertained  serious  thoughts  of  resigning  his  jurisdiction  as 
Bishop.  He  was  probably  withheld  from  the  fixed  purpose  of 
doing  so  by  the  known  and  expressed  opposition  on  the  part  of 
very  many  in  and  out  of  the  diocese  to  such  a  course.*  There 
seemed  to  be  only  one  mode  and  hope  of  relief,  and  that  was  the 
election  of  an  Assistant  Bishop.  To  this  the  Bishop  gave  his 
•"  concurrence  and  consent,"  and  placed  the  whole  matter  in  the 
hands  of  the  convention. 

There  were  those  in  the  diocese  who,  on  principle,  were  opjDOsed 
to  the  whole  system  of  Assistant  Bishops,  as  contrary  to  the  one 
headship  in  the  Ei5isco2)al  jui'isdiction,  and  as  liable  in  practice  to 
the  perpetuation  in  a  diocese  by  its  Bishop  of  a  certain  cast  of 
Episcoi^al  teaching  and  governance,  inasmuch  as  the  convention 


*  See  page  209.  where,  in  a  letter  of  his  to  the  newly-consecrated  assistant 
.Bishop,  he  gives  expression  to  this  purpose  which  he  had  formed. 


LIFE    OF    insilol'    1-INKNKY.  I  Hi 

of  a  diocese,  whatever  might  be  the  convictions  of  its  incjal.fis, 
Avoiihi  be  slow  to  elect  an  assistant  whose  views  were  known  in 
be  not  in  harmony  with  those  of  the  diocesan. 

As  the  canon  forbids  the  election  of  a  Bls/mp  si/f^'nn/tm,  thno 
is  no  other  relief  f<n-  a  Bisho^j's  disability  and  the  needs  of  Epis- 
copal services  than  that  of  an  Assistant  Bishop.  There  is  a  limit 
to  whicli  diocesan  division  can  be  carried,  the  conditions  in  sonic 
of  the  dioceses  beiu<>-  such  that  division  becomes  jjracticallv 
impossible.  Some  action  may  be  taken  by  the  General  Church 
to  substitute  for  the  })resent  mode  of  relief  by  Assistant  Bislio])s 
a  suftraj^mn  system,  like  that  which  existed  in  the  primitive  Church, 
and  which  would  not  be  liable  to  the  objections  to  that  form  of 
sufl'raganship  which  was  adopted  in  England  in  the  reign  of  Henry 
VIII,  and  against  which  the  prohibition  of  the  existing  canon  is 
directed. 

At  the  General  Ccmvention  in  1880  a  canon  entitled,  "  of  suffra- 
gan Bisho])s,"  was  introduced  in  the  House  of  Bishops  and  j)ost- 
poned  for  consideration  to  the  next  general  convention.  The 
matter  thus  brought  before  the  Church  in  her  highest  council 
may  result  in  some  determinative  action  that  will  better  meet  the 
needs  and  exigencies  of  the  Church  than  the  present  system  of 
"  Assistant  Bishops." 

The  Convention  of  the  Diocese  met  in  Baltimore  on  the  2()th  of 
May,  1809.  The  Bishop  was  in  attendance,  but  too  feeble  in 
health  to  i)reside  during  the  deliberations  of  the  body.  His 
address  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  one  of  the  clergy  to  be  read 
to  the  convention  ;  and,  by  his  request,  there  being  no  opposition, 
the  j^resident  of  the  Standing  Committee,  the  Rev.  Dr.  C.  K. 
Nelson,  took  the  chair  to  occupy  the  place  of  the  Bishop  "  through 
the  current  of  business." 

The  closing  paragraphs  of  the  Bishop's  address,  referring  to 
the  condition  of  his  health  and  to  relief  fen-  the  diocese,  are  here 
given  : 

"  The  rendering  of  this  slender  account  may  serve  to  introduce  and  justify 
a  communication  which  it  costs  me  much  to  make. 

"  After  nine  and  twenty  years  of  endeavor,  always  weak  and  imperfect, 
and  often,  to  my  full  consciousness,  miserably  futile,  but  still  honest  and 
earnest  endeavor — to  serve  the  Diocese  in  my  office,  the  experiment  of  the 
last  three  years  has  j^roved  to  me  that  I  must  either  be  content  to  lie  as  an 
incubus  ujion  my  people,  pres-sing  down  their  energies,  and  thwarting 
instead  of  forwarding  their  work,  or  must  set  before  them  my  hopelessness 
of  fulfilling  the  measure  of  official  duty  which  their  needs  require. 

"  I  have  my  own  views  of  what  it  were  best  for  me  to  do,  in  this  state  of 
our  relati<ms :  but  I  defer  to  those  of  others  when  I  adopt  the  course  of 
informing  you  that  I  have  no  longer  room  for  doubt  that  my  case  comes 
within  the  "purview  of  Section  V  of  Canon  13  of  the  Digest ;  and  that  if  the 
Convention  should  think  proper  to  take  action  under  that  ('anon  for  the 
relief  of  the  Diocese,  it  will,  in  so  doing,  have  my  frank  and  cheerfully 
accorded  conciirrence  and  consent. 


192  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

"Humbly  committing  yoii  iu  tins,  as  iu  all  your  counsels  and  devisings, 
to  the  aid  ;iud  guidance  of  the  Blessed  SiDirit  of  wisdom,  love,  and  peace,  and 
praying  for  you  rich  measures  of  blessing,  for  our  dear  Saviour's  sake,  fi-om 
our"  Heavenly  Father,  I  am,  my  dear  brethren. 

'■  Your  loving  brother  and  servant  in  the  Lord, 

••  WILLIAM  EOLLINSON  WHITTINGHAM, 

"  Bhhiij)  of  Maryland. 
"  Baltimore,  May  26,  1K()9." 

"NMiereupou  a  resolution  was  offered,  '"  That  the  notice  requu-ed 
by  Ai-ticle  V  of  the  Constitution,  before  the  election  of  an  Assist- 
ant Bishop,  be  now  given,  and  recorded  in  the  jom-nal,"  which, 
''  Resolution,  together  with  all  that  part  of  the  Bishop's  address 
referrino-  to  the  same  subject,"  was  referred  to  a  special  com- 
mittee of  four-  clergymen  and  three  laymen,  to  report  during  the 
session  of  the  convention.  This  committee  after  stating  in  their 
report  on  the  next  day  "  That  in  the  judgment  of  the  committee 
it  is  unad^•isable  at  this  time  to  make  any  provision  looking  to  the 
election  of  an  Assistant  Bishop  for  the  diocese,''  presented  two 
resolutions,  as  follows  : 

'^  Renolved,  That  the  Convention  hereby  appropriate  the  sum  of  Five 
Hundred  Dollars  for  the  use  of  the  Bishop,  and  subject  to  his  order,  to 
enable  him  to  deft-ay  the  expenses  of  sxich  aid  as  he  may  think  proper  to 
obtain  in  the  exercise  of  his  Episcopal  functions  in  the  Diocese  of  Maryland, 
until  the  next  annual  meeting  of  this  Convention. 

"  ReNolved,  That  this  Convention  tenders  to  its  beloved  Father  and  Chief 
Pastor  its  deepest  sympathy  and  regret,  at  the  occasion  of  his  present  appeal, 
with  their  earnest  prayer  to  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  that  with  the 
Divine  lilessiug  upon  the  measure  of  relief  thus  given,  his  health  may  be 
restored,  and  that  the  admirable  results  of  his  early  ministry  may  be 
equalled,  if  not  surpassed,  by  the  riper  fruits  of  the  future." 

For  these  resolutions  a  substitute,  to  the  effect  of  giving  the 
requii-ed  notice  of  electing  an  Assistant  Bishop  at  the  next  con- 
vention, was  ofifered  and  failed  to  pass.  The  question  then  recur- 
rmg  on  the  resolutions  of  the  committee  they  were  unanimously 
adopted.  The  resolution,  which  had  been  offered  as  a  HubstitiUe, 
was  then  presented  as  an  orif/lnal  resolution,  and  was  adopted 
by  a  very  decided  vote  of  both  orders.  The  resolution  was  as 
follows  : 

"  liemlvod  That  the  notice  required  by  Article  V  of  the  Constitution  of 
the  Diocese,  to  be  given  by  the  Convention,  whenever  it  shall  be  proposed 
to  elect  an  Assistant  Bishop,  be  and  hereby  is  given,  in  order  that  an  election 
for  an  Assistant  Bishop  may  take  place  at  the  next  Annual  Convention, 
May,  1K70." 

At  the  Convention  which  met  in  Baltimore  on  the  25th  of  May, 
1870,  Bishop  Whittiugham  was  present  at  the  opening  ser\'ices ; 
but  after  the  body  was  organized  for  business, 

"  The  Right  Reverend,  the  Bishop,  announced  to  the  Convention  that, 
on  account  of  his  present  disability  (referring  particularly  to  the  loss  of 


LIFE   OF   lUSHoI'    I'INKNEY.  lil.'j 

his  voice),  in  adtlition  to  the  cU'c'tiou  of  a  Soci-etary,  In-  would  l.c  .•omprllfd 
to  iisk  tlie  Convention  to  eleet  a  President  from  its  body,  to  preside.  WlnTe- 
n^jon,  the  (Convention  proceeded  to  an  election  rica  voce,  which  resulted  l>v 
a  unanimous  vote  in  the  selection  of  tlie  l{ev.  Cleland  K.  Nelson.  I).  ]).". 
President." 

The  address  of  the  Bishop  had  Ijeen  placed  in  the  hands  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Stryker,  who,  by  recpiest  of  the  convention,  ])i(>ci'('dcd 
to  read  the  address. 

The  Bishop,  in  referring-  to  his  "  increased  incapacity  "  lor  Epis- 
copal visitations,  was  able  to  say  : 

"Nevertheless,  as  in  former  years,  the  very  great  kindness  of  brethren  in 
otKce  has  enabled  me  to  obtain  for  the  Diocese  a  fair  measure  of  Episcopal 
service.  Esjiecially  we  are  indebted  to  the  Bishops  of  Pittsburgh  and  of 
Easton  for  a  fttU  month  of  daily  work  on  the  part  of  the  former,  and  within 
a  (biv  or  two  of  the  same  amount  of  hibor  l)v  the  hitter." 


"  The  visitations  of  the  year,  by  other  Bishops  and  myself,  have  extendeiT 
to  all  the  counties  in  the  Diocese  but  one,  and  pretty  thoroughly  in  the 
cities  of  Baltimore  and  Washington." 

The  Bishop  was  also  able  to  make  in  his  address  the  following 
gratifying  statement : 

"  We  have  now  in  this  Diocese  precisely  the  number  of  clergymen  that 
were  at  work  in  all  Maryland  in  1855  ;  and  I  am  thoroughly  satisfied,  from 
careful  inquiry  and  ample  soiirces  of  information,  that  the  services  and 
attendance  of  this  Diocese  in  the  present  year  are  fully  double  those  of  the 
undivided  Diocese  fifteen  years  ago.  This  is  a  great  thing  to  say  :  because 
it  amounts  to  an  affirmation  that  the  working  efficiency  of  our  clergy  has 
doubled  itself  in  half  a  generation  :  but  I  feel  confident  of  the  accuracy  <>f 
the  statement,  and  deem  mj'self  bound  to  make  it  in  justice  to  my  hard- 
working— in  human  computation  ill  supported  and  miserably  remunerated, 
but  nobly  successful,  and  of  God,  after  the  wishes  of  their  own  hearts, 
gloriously  rewarded  brethren.  If  ever  patient  continuance  in  widl-doing 
had  its  reward  even  in  the  present  fruits  of  labor,  church-work  in  Maryland 
is  now  recompensing  the  earnest,  indomitable  zeal  of  the  unpretending, 
suifering  men  who  make  so  large  a  proportion  of  those  engaged  in  it." 

Towards  the  close  of  his  address  the  Bishop  referred  to  his 
communication  to  the  convention  of  the  preceding  year,  in  whic-h 
he  had  expressed  his  "  concurrence  and  consent  "  to  the  elec-tion 
of  an  Assistant  Bishop  : 

"  On  the  matters  brought  before  the  last  C'.'nveuiion.  and  to  be  taken  up 
by  this  Convention  in  continuation  of  the  proceedings  then  instituted,  I 
have  nothing  to  add  to  my  comnumications  already  made.  The  welfare  of 
the  Diocese  is  in  your  hands.  May  God  abundantly  endow  you  with  heavenly 
wisdom,  and  that  charity  which  is  the  very  bond  of  grace  and  perfect ness, 
to  guide  you  in  all  your  action  and  decisions  I  " 

On  the  second  day  of  the  session  (1870)  the  convention  decided 
by  a  very  large  vote  to  "  proceed  to  the  election  of  an  Assistant 


104  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PIXKNEY. 

Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Maryland,  under  Article  V  of  the  Con- 
stitution." 

The  whole  proceedings  in  the  election  that  followed  were  so 
marked  by  unanimity  and  solemnity  that  the  record  stands  out 
as  somewhat  unique  in  the  history  of  elections  to  the  Episcopate 
in  the  Diocese  of  Maryland,  which,  both  before  and  since,  have 
been  noted  for  delays,  difficulties,  embarrassments,  and  conten- 
tions. 

The  following  record  of  the  proceeding  had  on  that  election  is 
drawn  from  the  Journal  of  the  Convention  of  that  year,  1870. 

Several  nominations  were  made. 

Before  proceeding  to  ballot  the  whole  convention  knelt  m  silent 
jDrayer,  and  remained  in  an  attitude  of  supplication  for  several 
minutes. 

Article  V  of  the  Constitution  of  the  Church  in  Maryland 
requires  that  on  an  election  of  Bishop  or  Assistant  Bishop,  the 
order  of  the  clergy  shall  vote  first  and  separately,  and  a  vote  of 
two-thu'ds  of  that  order  shall  be  necessary  to  constitute  the  choice 
of  the  clergy  ;  and  upon  such  choice  the  name  of  the  person  so 
nominated  is  presented  to  the  order  of  the  lay  delegates  for  then- 
action,  and  an  approval  by  a  two-thu'ds  vote  of  then-  order  is 
required  to  constitute  an  election. 

Upon  the  first  ballot  of  the  clergy  the  Rev.  Dr.  William  Pinkxey 
received  within  one  vote  of  the  required  two-thuxls  majority. 
Upon  the  second  ballot  he  received  far  more  than  the  requu-ed 
number  of  votes,  and  the  nomination  was  immediately  approved 
and  confirmed  by  a  very  large  vote  of  the  lay  delegates. 

It  was  immediately  ordered  by  vote  in  the  convention  that  the 
election  be  declared  unanimous. 

The  convention  then  united  in  singing  the  Gloria  in  Exeelsis. 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  wait  on  the  Rt.  Rev.  the  Bishop 
of  the  diocese,  to  advise  him  of  the  action  of  the  convention  : 
and  a  similar  committee  to  wait  on  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  Pixkxey,  and 
apprise  him  of  his  election. 

The  reports  of  these  committees  were  as  follows  : 

"  The  Rev.  Dr.  Lewin,  from  the  Committee  appointed  to  wait  upon  the 
Bev.  WiLiiAM  PiNKNEY,  D.  D.,  and  to  inform  him  of  his  election  as  Assistant 
Bishop,  made  the  foHowiug  report  : 

"  '  The  Committee  appointed  to  announce  to  the  Kev.  William  Pinkney. 
D.  D.,  that  this  Convention  had  elected  him  to  the  high  and  holy  office  of 
Bishop  in  the  Chiirch  of  GOD,  to  assist  their  Rt.  Ptev.  Father  in  GOD,  the 
Bishop  of  this  Diocese,  respectfully  report,  that,  in  the  discharge  of  their 
duty,  immediately  after  the  adjournment  of  the  Convention,  they  waited 
upon  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pinkney.  the  Assistant  Bishop-elect,  and  that  they  expect 
shortly  to  have  the  pleasure  of  introducing  him  to  the  Convention. 

(Signed;     MEYER  LEWIN, 
W.  F.  BRAND, 
GEO.  LEEDS, 
BERNARD  CARTER, 
DANIEL  M.  THOMAS.' 


LIFE    OF    msHOl'    I'lXKNEY.  I'.l;") 

"  The  liev.  Dr.  Shepherd,  fnnii  the  Cdiiuuitter  a]i)ioiiiti(l  tn  wait  tui  tin- 
Eight  Rev.  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese,  to  inform  iiiiii  <.l  the  election  of  im 
Assistant  BishoiJ,  re^jorted  as  follows  : 

••  '  The  Coiiuuittee  appointed  for  the  pnrjjose  of  informing  the  Kt.  Rever- 
end the  Bishop  of  the  Dioeese,  of  the  result  of  the  election  of  an  Assistant 
Bishop,  would  respectfully  report  that,  in  the  discharge  of  their  dutv,  they 
Avaited  ujjon  the  Bishop  immediately  after  the  adjournment  of  the  C(»nven- 
tiou  hist  night.  When  informed  of  the  result  of  the  election,  and  esjieeially 
■of  the  harmony  which  attended  it,  he  thanked  Ood  with  visible  emotion, 
and  prayed  that  His  blessing  might  attend  it.  He  stated  that  he  had  pur- 
po.sely  abstained  from  ex])ressing  any  preference,  for  he  desired  that  the 
person  elected  should  be  the  choice  of  the  Convention — that  no  one  wotUd 
be  personally  more  agreeable  and  acceptable  to  himself  in  all  social  an<l 
•ecclesiastical  relations.  He  would  like  to  say  more,  Vmt  his  voice  would  not 
permit  it. 

(Signc.l)  J.  AVERY  SHEPHERD, 

A.  P.   STRYKER. 

E.  A.  DALRYMPLE. 

A.  BO\Y]E  DAVIS, 

H.  COLBURN,  M.  D. 

R.  M.  PROUD.' 

•'  The  Assistant  Bishop-elect,  the  Rev.  William  Pinkney,  D.  D.,  was  then 
introduced.  The  Convention  rose,  and  remained  stan(hng  while  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Leeds,  on  behalf  of  the  Committee,  spoke  as  follows  : 

"  '  Me.  President  :  The  Committee  whom  you  honored  last  evening  with 
the  duty  of  communicating  the  action  of  this  body  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pinkxey, 
take  great  pleasure  in  now  presenting  him,  both  to  you  and  to  this  Conven- 
tion, as  the  Assistant  Bishop-elect  of  the  Diocese  of  Maryland. 

"  '  To  say  that  he  is  worthy,  on  whom  the  choice  of  his  brethren  has 
fallen,  to  aid  our  venerable  Father  in  GckI  in  the  arduous  duties  to  which, 
to  our  deep  sorrow,  he  is  luade  unequal,  would  be  quite  superfluous.  He  is 
already  in  your  confidence,  your  esteem,  and  your  affection:  and  I  lieg  to 
assure  him,  in  this  presence,  how  heartily  those  who  have  hail  the  honor  to 
share,  though  at  a  wide  remove  from  himself,  the  suffrages  of  this  Conven- 
tion— how  heartily  they  and  their  too  partial  friends  unite  in  the  c(jmmon 
expressionof  satisfaction  and  delight,  awakened,  at  this  hour,  by  the  har- 
mony of  our  counsels  and  the  manifest  guidance  of  God's  Good  Siiirit.' 

"To  which  Rev.  C.  K.  Nelson,  D.  D.,  President  of  the  Convention, 
responded  : 

••'Mr.  Chairman:  We  have  listened  to  your  introduction  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  PiNKNEY  as  Assistant  Bishop-elect  of  the  Diocese  of  Maryland  with  the 
deepest  interest.  As  we,  in  the  name  of  the  Convention,  welcome  him  to 
our  presence,  it  needs  no  addition  to  the  words  so  well  chosen  by  yourself, 
to  express  the  sense  of  appreciation  which  the  Dioeese  entertains  for  him. 
It  is  enough  to  say  that  he  is  a  son  of  the  Diocese,  and  has  devoted  the 
energies  of  his  whole  earnest  life  to  her  service.  In  the  name  of  the  Dioeese 
of  Maryland,  we  offer  to  the  Assistant  Bishop-elect  our  trui'st  and  heartiest 
sympathy,  and  pledge  him  the  most  cordial  siipport  of  our  hands  and  our 
hearts.' 

"With  voice  tremulous  with  emotion.  Rev.  Dr.  Pinkney  responded  as 
f  I  )llows  : 

"  '  Dear  Brethren  of  the  Clergy,  and  dear  Brethren  of  the  Laity  : 
Overwhelmed  as  I  am  by  this  most  unexpected  and  unmerited  token  of  your 
confidence  and  love,  I  can  only  say  I  am  profoundly  grateful.  And  yet, 
when  I  cast  my  eyes  around  me,  and  see  so  many  Presbyters  beloved,  who 
would  have  worn  this  mantle  with  inexpressil)ie  dignity  and  grace,  and 
brought  to  the  discharge  of  the  high  duties  of  this  most   fearful   office,  a 


196  LIFE    OF    BISHOr    PINKNEY. 

ripeness  of  experience,  wisdom,  learning,  eloquence,  zeal,  and  enei'gy,  to- 
which  I  can  lay  no  claim  whatever,  I  am  as  deeply  humbled.  Should  your 
choice  meet  the  approval  of  the  iseveral  Standing  Committees  and  Bishops 
of  the  Church,  and  my  own  mind  and  heart  be  brought  to  the  conviction 
that  it  is  my  duty  to  take  up  the  Banner  of  the  Cross,  as  yo\ir  leader,  wishing 
and  seeking  to  act,  at  all  times  and  under  all  circumstances,  in  the  most 
cordial  and  fi-aternal  co-operation  with  the  most  eminent  and  distinguished 
Bishop,  who  has  for  so  many  years  guided  the  destinies  of  this  Diocese,  and 
whose  rare  learning  and  l)iirniug  eloc^uence  have  made  him  so  signally 
known  beyond  our  l)orders.  I  shall  have  to  draw  very  largely  on  your  for- 
bearance and  brotherly  sympathy. 

*' '  Having  spent  the  largest  portion  of  my  life  in  the  rural  districts,  there 
is  no  part  of  the  held  in  which  I  shall  take  a  livelier  interest  than  that  in 
which  a  noble  baud  of  Presbyters  and  Deacons  are  now  serving  the  Church 
in  a  spirit  of  the  sublimest  self-sacrifice,  in  a  beautiful  contentment  with 
their  lot,  and  a  voluntary  poverty  endured  for  God  and  His  holy  household. 
"Words  are  powerless  to  express  the  feelings  that  at  this  moment  move  me. 
Deeds,  not  words,  you  have  a  right  to  expect :  for  deeds  alone  can  test  the 
issues  of  this  hour. 

"  '  You  have  called  me  fi'om  a  field  of  labor  where  I  was  happy,  and  more 
than  satisfied — from  a  people  who  have  never  tired  in  the  kindest  offices  of 
love,  and  who  have  ever  woven  around  my  heart  cords,  the  severance  of 
which  must  cost  me  intensest  agony.  If  I  am  constrained  to  turn  from  them 
to  you,  I  shall  confidently  look  to  the  Clergy  and  Laity  of  the  Diocese  of 
Maryland  for  a  generous  construction  of  my  motives,  and  a  warm-hearted 
sympathy  in  my  cares  and  trials,  and  I  know  I  shall  not  be  disappointed. 

"  '  I  leave  you,  with  these  few  words,  to  face  the  responsibility  of  this 
hour :  and,  if  confirmed  by  the  Church  at  large,  solve  the  great  question  of 
duty  in  the  chamber  of  my  own  heart.' 

"At  the  conclusion  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pinkney's  remarks,  the  whole 
assembly  again  knelt  in  prayer;  after  which,  the  members  of  the  Conven- 
tion gathered  around  the  Reverend  Doctor  and  tendered  their  congratu- 
lations. 

"  In  the  meantime,  the  venerable  Dr.  Pigott  had,  at  the  request  of  the 
Committee,  drawn  up  the  Testimonial  in  the  prescribed  form,  and  a  table 
being  placed  in  the  main  aisle,  the  roll  was  called  by  the  Secretary,  in  the 
order  of  seniority,  and  each  clergyman,  as  his  name  was  called,  stepped 
forward  and  signed  the  Testimonial.  After  which,  the  lay  members  all  signed 
their  names. 

'"TESTIMONIAL. 

"  '  We,  whose  names  are  underwritten,  fully  sensible  how  important  it 
is  that  the  sacred  office  of  a  Bishojj  should  not  be  unworthily  conferred, 
and  firmly  persuaded  that  it  is  our  duty  to  bear  testimony  on  this  solemn 
occasion,  without  partiality  or  affection,  do,  in  the  presence  of  Almighty 
God,  testify  that  William  Pinkney,  Doctor  in  Divinity,  is  not,  so  far  as  we 
are  informed,  justly  liable  to  evil  report,  either  for  ei-ror  in  religion  or  for 
viciousness  in  life,  and  that  we  do  not  know  or  believe  there  is  any  iini)edi- 
ment,  on  account  of  which  he  ought  not  to  be  consecrated  to  that  holy 
office.  We  do,  moreover,  jointly  and  severally,  declare  that  we  do,  in  our 
conscience,  believe  him  to  be  of  such  sufficiency  in  good  learning,  such 
soundness  in  the  faith,  and  of  such  virtuous  and  pure  manners,  and  godly 
conversation,  that  he  is  apt  and  meet  to  exercise  the  office  of  a  Bishop  to  the 
honor  of  God,  and  the  edifying  of  His  Church,  and  to  be  a  wholesome 
example  to  the  flock  of  Christ.'  " 

Bishop  Wbittingham,  as  we  have  seen,  interposed  in  no  way  to 
inlluence  or  control  the  action  of  the  convention.     His  jirofound 


J 


LIFE    OF    lilSHol'    I'lNKNKY.  ] '.)7 

Ix'licf  in  tlie  i)ros("iice  iiiid  ^iiidmici'  of  (J()l)  in  tiif  Church  luc- 
chuhd  him  from  all  personal  or  olticial  coiniKels  or  acts  in  tliat 
direction.  He  cheerfully  suljmitted  the  whole  matter  t(i  the  will 
and  choice  of  the  convention.  AVhatever  i)references  he  nniy  have 
had  as  to  his  associate  and  successor  in  the  Ei)isco])ate,  it  is  not 
known  that  he  ever  gave  expression  to  them.  It  was  well  known 
that  long  l)efore  the  meeting  of  the  convention  the  miiids  of  very 
many  among  the  clergy,  and  of  still  larger  numl)ers  of  the  laity 
of  the  diocese,  were  turned  to  Dr.  Pinkney  for  the  Ei)isc()pate. 
The  reniiukable  unanimity  in  his  electi(m,  and  the  glad  ami  giate- 
ful  way  in  which  the  result  was  received  throughout  the  dit)cese, 
marked  the  strength  and  the  depth  of  the  feeling  in  the  Church 
for  his  selection. 

The  whole  circumstances,  therefore,  of  his  election  to  the  J^pis- 
copate  were  such  as  to  hardly  leave  Di-.  Pinkney  any  choice  as  to 
his  acceptance.  That  he  did  not  desire  the  high  and  sacred 
office,  that  he  shrunk  from  its  grave  responsibilities,  that  he 
would  far  rather  have  had  the  choice  to  fall  upon  one  l)etter  fitted 
thiui  himself,  as  he  believed,  for  the  work  of  a  Bishop  in  the 
Church  of  GOD.  and.  moreover,  that  it  would  force  him  to  sever 
the  ties  that  bound  him  so  closely  and  tenderly  to  his  parish  and 
his  peoi)le  with  like  affection  to  himself — all  this  he  knew  and 
felt,  and  yet  at  the  same  time  he  felt  in  his  soul  that  he  would  be 
bound  to  obe}'  the  call,  commg  to  him,  under  Divine  Providence. 
•R-ithout  any  agency  of  his  own,  as  the  call  of  GOD.  manifested 
and  expressed  by  and  through  the  choice  of  the  Church  in  her 
council  assembled.  Resignedly,  therefore,  he  awaited  the  action 
of  the  General  Church  through  the  Standing  Committees  and  the 
Bishops  ;  but  as  that  action  was  believed  to  be.  as  it  proved,  cer- 
tainly confirmatory  of  the  diocesan  election.  Dr.  Pinkney's  accept- 
ance of  the  EpiscojDate  was  considered  as  a  matter  settled. 

In  order  to  pro-^dde  "  a  suitable  salary  for  the  support  of  the 
Assistant  Bishop,"'  a  committee  of  seven  laymen  was  appointed 
"to  report  at  the  earliest  moment"  on  the  subject,  and  were 
authorized  to  devise  ways  and  means  for  raising  the  necessary 
amount. 

Before  the  adjournment  of  the  convention  Mr.  "Wm.  G.  Harri- 
son, the  chairman,  on  the  part  of  that  committee,  presented  a 
resolution  "  That  the  sum  of  four  thousand  dollars  per  annum, 
payable  quarterly,  lie  the  stipend  of  the  Assistant  Bishop.""  whicli 
resolution  was  adopted,  and  the  measures  recommended  for  rais- 
ing the  amount  were  ajipioved  by  vote  of  the  coiivention. 

Thus  was  happily  consummated  in  the  Convention  of  1<S70  the 
election  of  an  Assistant  Bishop  for  the  diocese,  whereby  tlie  vener- 
able Bishop,  in  his  declining  health,  was  to  be  aided  and  relieved 
in  his  too  onerous  duties  by  one  possessing  in  an  eminent  degree 


198  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   PINKNEY. 

tlie  high  qualifications  for  the  sacred  ofiice,  and  at  the  same  time 
the  confidence  and  love  of  the  whole  diocese. 

Thus,  too,  in  not  more  than  a  period  of  seven  years  after  those 
notable  occurrences  which  had  occasioned  temporary  collision 
lietween  the  Bishop  of  the  diocese  and  the  rector  of  the  Ascen- 
sion, there  came  about,  under  the  Providence  of  God  and  the 
Divine  guidance  of  the  Church,  one  of  those  events  which,  by  a 
happy  concurrence  of  circumstances,  bring  together  for  united 
work  and  mutually  helpful  counsels  those  who  before  had  stood 
somewhat  apart. 

The  memories  of  the  past  cannot  be  obliterated,  but  they  may 
become  so  soothed  and  softened  by  time  that  men  of  real  eai'- 
nestness  and  loyalty  of  character  brought  into  new  and  closer 
relations,  will  never  suffer  those  memories  to  lessen  the  faithful- 
ness and  completeness  with  which  they  discharge  the  sacred 
responsibilities  pertaining  to  their  joint  occupancy  of  one  great 
position  of  high  trust  and  duty.  There  may  not  be  a  subsequent 
unanimity  in  judgment  touching  many  grave  matters,  but  there 
will  be  the  absence  of  all  painful  conflict  as  each  is  sincere,  earnest, 
and  conscientious  in  discharge  of  duty,  and  both  look  to  the 
accomplishment  of  one  high  and  noble  end. 

Oh  the  next  morning  after  his  election  as  the  Assistant  Bishop 
Dr.  PiXKNEY  received  from  Bishop  Whittingham  the  following' 
gratifying  letter : 

^'Bitihop  Whittiiwham  to  Rev.  Dr.  Pinkney. 

"  Friday  moening,  27  May,  '70. 

"  My  Very  Deak  Brother  :  lu  the  momeutons  action  of  last  evening  two 
things  call  loudly  for  my  especial  gratitiade  to  the  Great  Disposer  of  events. 

*'  First,  that  He  should  have  given  me  a  brother  and  fellow-helper  in  whom 
I  have  entire  and  unlimited  confidence  as  a  man,  a  Christian,  and  a  chiirch- 
man. 

"Next,  that  He  should  have  brought  it  about  with  such  signal  unanimity 
among  the  agents  and  such  hajipy  freedom  from  the  blots  and  blemishes 
which  sometimes  mar  <>i;r  comfort  in  similar  transactions,  even  when  the 
result  is  grcmnd  of  thankfulness. 

•'  I  have,  as  I  believe  you  know,  scrupulously  refrained  from  everything 
which  could  tend  to  make  the  action  of  our  convention  other  than  the  free 
and  unVnased  expression  of  the  wish  of  the  diocese. 

"  It  is  with  just  so  much  the  more  heartfelt  satisfaction  that  I  can  accept 
that  action  as  the  genuine  choice  of  the  diocese,  and  welcome  it  as  fallen 
upon  one  whom  long  personal  esteem  and  close  friendship  have  already 
bound  me  to  in  indissoluble  bonds. 

"I  think  I  know  your  ends  and  aims  in  accepting  the  great  trust  to  be 
committed,  to  be  the  same  with  which  I  have  been  poorly  striving  to  hold 
it,  and  that  a  hearty  imauimity  of  principles  and  objects  will  make  it  no  hard 
thing  for  us  to  work  in  concert. 

"  Of  this  I  i>ray  you  be  now  and  once  for  all  assured,  it  shall,  GOD  help- 
ing me,  be  my  unremitting  study  and  endeavor  to  consiilt  your  views  and 
your  convenience  in  all  matters  falling  to  my  disposal  in  our  common  work. 

"  May  He  whose  voice  speaks  to  us  in  such  cases,  in  the  utterances  of  His 


LIFE    OF    ]!IS1I()]'    riNKXEY.  I'.CJ 

Ijeoplc,  1)1'  still  niDiv  ami  more  to  yi>u.  my<lcar  linith.T,  iu  your  uew  n-sijun- 
siljilities  iiiul  under  the  uew  iiiid  heavy  hurtlcns  to  be  placed  on  you,  y<nir 
ever-present  and  all-sufficient  stay  and  heli)er. 
"  So  from  the  bottom  of  his  heart  i)ray9 

"  Your  loving  friend  and  brother. 

••  W.    n.    W  111  iri.\(.llA.M. 
''  Kev.  Dr.  Pixkxey." 

Closely  following-  upon  this  letter  of  Bishop  Whitthi^'huni  was 
one  from  Bishop  Lay,  of  Easton  ;  and  it  is  here  given,  because 
as  called  to  be  fellow-bishops  within  the  1)orders  of  the  one  State 
of  Maryland,  though  with  separate  jurisdictions,  it  was  peculiarly 
gratifying-  to  Dr.  Pinkney  to  receive  from  Bishop  Lay  the  exi)res- 
sion  of  sincere  and  hearty  desire  that  their  future  official  relations 
should  be  of  the  most  genial  and  cordial  character : 

"B/'xhop  lAiy  to  Rex:.  Dr.  Pinkney. 

"  Easton.  May  28t.fi,  187(1. 

"  My  Deak  Dk.  Pixkxey  :  Aniong  the  many  who  will  approach  you  with 
words  of  contidence  and  kindness,  allow  me  to  tind  a  small  space. 

"  My  observation  in  Maryland,  however  limited,  has  assiired  me  how  much 
a  Bishop,  to  do  active  work,  was  needed ;  and  it  seemed  to  me  that  many 
things  combined  to  designate  yon  as  the  one  to  undertake  this  arduous  office. 

"  I  think  the  Chnrch  in  Maryland  is  to  be  congratulated  on  the  result  of 
the  late  election  ;  and  we  are  all  thankful  that  one  could  be  found,  who  was 
iu  uo  wise  a  compromise  man — one  whose  record  and  principles  were  so  well 
known  and  whom  all  could  accei)t  with  confidence  and  affection. 

"  I  have  greatly  desired  heretofore  to  know  you  well  and  to  have  a  share 
iu  your  friendship.  Bishop  Atkinson  had  inqiarted  to  me  some  of  his  own 
liking  founded  on  long  acquaintance. 

"And  now  that  we  are  to  be  brothers  by  a  chosen  tie  and  to  labor  side  by 
side,  with  so  many  peculiar  interests  and  sympathies  in  common,  I  cannot 
forbear  the  exjiression  of  my  sincere  regard  and  respect  for  your  character. 
I  trust  that  in  tlie  future  we  may  be  a  help  and  su])i)ort  the  one  to  tin-  other, 
and  lend  and  receive  some  assistances  in  the  very  responsible  charge  of 
giving  direction  to  work  for  GOD  in  Maryland. 

"Imploring  upon  you  in  all  your  future  life  the  blessing  of  Almighty 
GOD,  I  remain,  with  very  sincere  regard, 

"  Y'^our  friend  and  brother, 

"HENRY  C.  LAY. 

''Eev.  Dr.  Pinkney,  Wdnhinatoti,  D.  6'." 

On  the  28th  of  July,  1870,  the  Standing-  Committee  informed 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Pinkney,  the  Bishop-elect,  that  •'  official  notice  had 
been  received  from  the  presiding-  Bishop  that  the  requisite  con- 
sent of  the  Bishops  and  Standing-  Committees  had  been  given  to 
his  consecration  ;"  and  they  expressed  the  "sincere  hojie  that  lie 
w^ould  signify  to  the  committee  his  official  acceptance  of  the  high 
and  holy  trust  to  which  the  Church  in  the  diocese  had  with  such 
providential  unanimity  called  him.""  A  committee  of  three,  con- 
sisting of  the  Rev.  Drs.  Lewin,  Leeds,  and  Nelson,  was  ap})ointed 
to  make  arrangements  for  the  consecration.  Under  then-  action 
and  in  concru-rence  with  the  views  and  wishes  of  the  Bishop-elect 


200  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    PINKXEY. 

tlie  6th  day  of  October,  1870,  was  appointed  as  the  time,  and  the 
Church  of  the  Epiphany,  AVashington  city,  selected  as  the  place 
for  the  consecration.  The  Church  of  the  Ascension,  of  which  Dr. 
PiNKXEY  had  been  for  so  long  time  rector,  was  not  selected, 
because,  by  reason  of  its  limited  seating  capacity,  it  could  contain 
only  a  smaU  portion  of  those  who  would  desu*e  to  be  present  on 
the  occasion,  and  also  because  the  entrance  to  the  nave  of  the 
church  through  a  basement  vestibule  would  be  incommodious  to 
the  officiating  Bishops  and  the  attendmg  clergy.  The  Church  of 
the  Epiphan}'  being  generously  offered  was  gladly  accepted  for 
the  consecration  service.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Lewin  was  authorized  by 
the  committee  "•  to  conduct  the  corresj^ondence  and  consummate 
all  arrangements  " — than  whom  no  one  was  better  fitted  by  his  per- 
sonal characteristics,  his  unfailing  energy,  and  his  large  acquaint- 
ance with  men  and  things  for  such  charge.  All  the  prehminary 
arrangements  for  the  services  and  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
visiting  Bishops  and  clergy  were  so  happily  made  by  Dr.  Lewin 
that  on  the  day  of  the  consecration  the  whole  order  of  procedure 
was  so  well  settled  as  to  avoid  all  ixnseemly  delaj^  and  confusion, 
and  the  consecration  services  were  entered  upon  and  conducted 
with  very  impressive  solemnity.  An  immense  congregation  filled 
the  entii'e  body  of  the  church,  the  galleries,  and  every  available 
standing  place,  and  very  many  had  to  leave  without  gaining 
admission. 

The  first  aiTangement  contemplated  and  desired  as  to  the 
l^resence  of  some  of  the  Bishops  who  were  to  take  part  in  the 
consecration  could  not  be  consummated  in  consequence  of 
engagements  and  circumstances  that  precluded  their  attendance. 
The  presiding  Bishop  Smith  was  able  to  be  present  and  to  act  as 
the  Consecrator.  With  him  were  associated,  besides  the  Bishops 
who  were  to  act  as  presenters,  the  Bishoi:)S  of  Pennsylvania, 
Pittsbtu-g,  New  Jersey,  and  Easton. 

Dr.  PiNKNEY  had  desired  and  requested  Bishop  "NYhittingham 
and  Bishoj:)  Johns,  of  Vu-ginia.  to  act  as  his  presenters.  As  the 
Bishop  of  Maryland,  on  account  of  ill  health,  could  not  l^e  present 
at  the  consecration.  Dr.  Pinkney  requested  Bishop  Atkinson,  of 
North  Carolina,  to  act  in  his  stead. 

Dr.  Pinkney's  letter  to  Bishojo  Whittingham,  asking  him  to  act 
as  one  of  the  presenters,  is  as  follows  : 

"  J9;-.   Pinkney  to  Bixhop    M'lnttinrjlKihi. 

*' Dear  Bishop  :  I  have  just  been  informed  by  Dr.  Leeds  that  he  had 
written  to  the  presiding  bishop  couceruiug  my  consecration  and  the  arrange- 
ment of  services,  and  I  would  express  to  yoi^  the  hope  that  you  would  do 
me  the  great  favor  to  act  as  one  of  my  presenters.  In  entering  on  the  office 
I  have  nothing  more  at  heart  than  tlie  desire  to  render  yon  all  the  relief  in 
my  power,  trusting  that  it  may  please  GOD  to  bless  your  rest  to  the  restora- 
tion of  your  rare  powers,  so  tliat  the  Church  may  continue  long  the  posses- 


LIFE    or    lilSHor    I'INKNKV.  21)1 

siou  of  your  E])isf">piite.  I  was  called  to  this  wnrk  imt  <iiily  witlioiu  a  wish 
on  iny])art,  hilt  in  tlic  face  of  honestly  ('Xj)r«'ssc<l  dei-laratinns  of  my  unlitness 
for  its  (litticnlt  and  delicate  duties.  To  he  presented  hy  yim  and  then  share 
yoiir  contideuce.  and,  in  sympathy,  aid  you  to  the  full  extent  of  my  feehle 
ability,  is  the  tliint,'  I  most  earnestly  desire.     I  am,  yours  in  ('HKIST, 

■  \V.   P." 

The  Bishop,  iu  his  iej)ly,  stated  "that  he  c-ouhl  only  coiulition- 
ally  promise  to  act."  Subsequently  he  ^yas  forced  to  write  that 
"  The  extreme  slowness  of  my  recovery  of  strength  and  nervous 
force  makes  it  very  doubtful  whether  I  shall  be  able  to  stand  the 
journey  to  Washington  and  the  extra  excitement  of  the  consecra- 
tion service.'"  And  ultimately  he  wrote  that  owing  to  continued 
illness  it  would  be  impossible  for  him  to  be  ])resent  at  the  conse- 
cration. Dr.  PiNKNEY  then  selected  and  requested  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Bishop  Atkinson,  of  North  Carolina,  to  act  with  Bishop  Johns,  of 
Virginia,  as  his  presenters.  The  Rev.  Drs.  IMcKeiiney  and  Lewin 
were  selected  as  the  attending  presbyters.  Rev.  Dr.  Nelson  was 
appointed  to  read  the  consent  of  the  diocese,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Leeds 
that  of  the  Standing  Committees,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Chew  that  of 
the  Bishops.  The  programme  for  the  order  of  the  consecration 
services  was  as  follows,  the  name  of  Bishop  Atkinson,  of  North 
Carolina,  being  substituted  for  that  of  Bishop  "Whittingham  as 
one  of  the  presenters  : 

C0NSECK.\TI0N 

of  the 
EEV.  WILLIAM  PINKNEY,  D.  D. 

Oedek  of  Services 

chuech  of  the  epiphany,  washington  city, 

Thursday,  October  (!,  A.  D.  1<S7() ;  11  A.  M. 

MORNING    PRAYER. 

To  the  end  of  the  Nicene  Creed.     (The  Presiding  Bishoi)  pronouncing  the 

Absolution). 
The  Rev.  Benj.  I.  Haight,  D.  D.,  (jf  New  York. 
FIRST  LESSON. — Isaiali  LXII. 

The  Key.  George  H.  Norton,  D.  I).,  of  Virginia. 
SECOND   LESSON. — St.  Matt.  X,  1-29. 

The  Eey.  Orlando  Huttcm,  D.  D.,  of  Easton. 

PRAYERS  (to  the  end  of  the  Prayer  for  the  President  of  the  United  States). 

The  Key.  Wm".  H.  Clarke,  of  Georgia. 

Selection  (ifi. 

THE  HOLY  COMMUNION. 

ANTK-COMMCNION. 

The  Et.  Eey.  the  ]5isho].  of  Tennessee. 

THE  epistle — The  Et.  Eey.  the  Eishop  of   Eastou. 

THE  gospel— The  Et.  Eey.  the  Bishop  of  Peuusylvania. 

Hymn  91),  yerses  1,  2,  5,  and  C. 

Sermon. 

The  Et.  Eey.  the  Bishop  of  Pittsburgh. 

Anthem, 

''  How  beautiful  are  the  feet  of  them  that  bring  glad  tidings." 


ATTENDING  PRIESTS. 


202  LIFE    or    BISHOP    riNKNEY. 

CONSECEATION. 

CONSECKATOE, 

The  Rt.  Eev.  Benj.  B.  Smith,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of  Kentucky,  Presiding  Bishop. 

Presenters, 

The  Pit.  Eev.  Thomas  Atkinson.  D.  D..  Bishop  of  North  Carolina. 

The  Rt.  Eev.  John  Johns,  D.  D..  Bishop  of  Virginia. 

TESTIMONIAL    OF    ELECTION. 

The  Eev.  C.   K.  Nelson,  D.  D. 

TESTIMONIAL     OF     THE     CONVENTION. 

The  Eev.  John  F.  Hotf,  D.  D. 

CONSENT    OF    THE    STANDING    COMMITTEES. 

The  Eev.  Geo.  Leeds,  D.  D. 

CONSENT  OF  THE  BISHOPS. 

The  Eev.  John    H.  Chew. 
Litany. 

The  Et.  Eev.  the  Bishop  of  New  Jersey. 

VESTING    in    the    EPISCOPAL    HABIT. 

The  Eev.  Jas.  A.  McKenney,  D.  D.,  of  East  on. 
The  Eev.  Meyer  Lewin.  D.D..  of  Maryland, 

THE   OFFERTORY   TO   THE   ABSOLUTION. 

The  Et.  Eev.  the  Bishop  of  Virginia. 

THE    ABSOLUTION    TO    THE    POST-COMMUNION. 

The  Et.  Eev.  the  Presiding  Bishop. 
Hymn  93,  verses  3  and  4. 

POST-COMMUNION. 

The  Et.  Eev.  the  Bishop  of  North  Carolina. 

BENEDICTION. 

The  Et.  Eev.  the  Presiding  Bishop. 
The  Offertory  on  this  occasion,  by  resolution  of  the  Standing  Committee 
of  Maryland,  will  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  newly  consecrated  Bishop, 
to  be  used  by  him  for  Church  work. 

Dr.  Pinkney's  first  choice  for  the  preacher  of  the  consecration 
sermon  was  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop)  Huntington,  of  Central  New 
York,  and  after  him  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Odenheimer,  of  New 
Jersey.  As  neither  of  these  Bishops  coukl  comply  with  the 
request,  Dr.  Pinkney's  thoughts  turned  to  Bishop  Kerfoot,  of 
Pittsbu.rgh,  with  whom,  for  many  years,  he  had  been  associated 
in  the  common  work  of  the  diocese,  and  for  "whose  special  educa- 
tional work  at  the  College  of  St.  James  he  had  ever  felt  and 
manifested  the  highest  appreciation.  By  request  of  the  Bishop- 
elect  and  the  Standing  Committee,  Bisho})  Kerfoot  kindly  con- 
sented to  be  the  preacher  on  the  occasion ;  and  the  very  able 
discourse  which  he  delivered  was,  afterwards,  by  then-  conjoint 
request,  given  for  publication.* 

Towards  the  close  of  the  sermon,  as  the  Bishop-elect  rose  to 
receive  the  godly  counsels  ai^d  salutations  of  the  preacher,  Bishop 
Kei'foot  said  Avith  deep  emotion  : 


*  The  writer  regretted  not  to  lind  in  the  very  interesting  Life  of  Bishop 
Kerfoot,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hall  Harrison,  any  notice  of  Bishop  Kerfoot's 
presence  at  the  consecration  of  Dr.  Pinkney,  and  of  the  sermon  preached 
by  him  on  that  occasion  ;  and  yet  he  was  not  altogether  unjirepared  for  such 
omission  upon  reading  the  pami)hlet  which  Dr.  Harrison  published  soon 
after  the  election  of  the  present  Bishop  of  Maryland. 


LIFE    OF    BlSIlor    I'INKNEY.  203- 

"  You  so — I  know  this  wt'll  :  yonr  fiithers  iin<l  brvtlircii  all  know  it  :  tli.- 
jieople  of  yoiir  fiiithfiil  pastoral  all  know  it  to-day;  you  j^o  out  into  thi-^ 
office  and  work  because  you  feel  you  must  not  stay  back  when  the  LOHI) 
would  send  you.  You  trust  not  yourself,  liut  you  (h>  trust  Him.  Then-  is 
streuLjth  as  well  as  awe  in  that  Voice  coming  down  throu^^h  the  atjcs.  and  in 
the  foresight  of  that  great  day  of  reckoning.  He  who  sends,  jilcdgcs  you 
His  grace  and  promises  you  His  reward.  You  will  nee<l  all  that  heljj  iiiid 
hope  ;  but  with  them,  the  wc)rk  before  you  will  be  a  blessed  one.  Its  cares 
will  be  many :  its  toils  neither  few  nor  light:  l)ut  its  rec<jmpenses  will  be 
sure  even  now,  in  the  good  you  can  do,  in  the  comfort,  counsel,  and  help 
you  can  bring  now,  as  never  before,  to  the  ministers  and  people  of  Christ. 

"  In  becoming  a  Bishop  in  this  old  Diocese  of  Maryland,  my  brother,  you 
enter  in  a  noble  company  and  a  glorious  heritage.  On  that  roll  of  Mary- 
land diocesans  no  nobler  name  is  written  than  that  of  the  able,  learned, 
beloved,  and  most  devoted  Bisho])  whose  work  you  are  to  share,  who.se 
official  cares  and  toils,  now  qi;ite  beyond  his  physical  strength,  you  are  to 
take  upon  you  in  very  large  measure.  For  now  more  than  thirty  years  he 
he  has  been  your  Bishop,  as  for  more  than  two-thirds  of  that  time  he  was 
my  Bishop.  I  must  ask  to-day  again  to  join  you,  dear  brother,  and  the 
clergy  of  this  diocese,  in  which  my  lot  was  so  long  and  so  pleasantly  cast, 
in  calling  him  our  Bishop.  Maj-  the  Bisliox)  of  Bishops  long  spare  to  us  all 
a  life  so  honorable,  so  valuable,  and  precious  to  our  whole  Church  I  His 
bodily  weakness  keeps  him  from  cmr  midst  to-day  ;  but  in  spirit,  and  in 
faithful  and  fervenf  intercession,  he  is  here  with  us  all ;  pleading  before 
GOD  for  yoii,  dear  brother,  most  chiefly  and  lovingly,  I  know.  Thanks  be 
to  the  Giver  of  all  grace  for  His  gift  to  His  Church  of  some  such  men  even 
in  our  day  I  That  godly  exemplar  is  yet  before  yotir  eyes ;  and  yet.  copy  no 
mere  man ;  be  as  far  as  you  can  like  Christ  Himself.  In  near  and  hourly 
communion  with  Him  must  be  your  life  and  yoiu-  strength.  From  Him 
shall  come  your  success  and  your  reward.  Know  Him  for  yoiirself,  that 
you  may  preach  Him  to  others — the  one  hope  of  sinners.  Be  a  faithful  and 
fearless  defender  of  His  Truth.  Wear  no  name  ln;t  His  and  His  Church's. 
Come  x\Y>  to  the  whole  truth  and  system  of  His  Gospel  and  His  Church. 
Feed  His  sheep  I  Feed  His  lambs  1  Pastor  of  many  churches,  henceforth  let 
yoiir  heart  be  enlarged  by  the  gifts  of  His  holy,  loving  spirit.  This  be  the 
meaning  of  yoitr  vows  to-day  I  Then  go  forth  courageously.  He  sends  you ; 
He  will  go  with  you :  He  will  guide  you  now  with  His  coiinsel,  and,  at  tlie 
end,  robing  you  not  in  your  righteousness,  biit  His  own,  may  He  niercifiilly 
receive  you  into  His  own  eternal  glory.     Amen." 

In  liis  first  address  to  the  Diocesau  Convention,  wliicli 
assemljled  in  the  month  of  May  following-,  the  Assistant  Bishop 
thns  refers  to  the  solemn  occasion  of  his  Consecration,  and  to  his 
deep  sense  of  the  responsibiHties  then  and  there  assumed : 

"  To  me,  the  sixth  of  October  was  a  day  of  fearful  issues.  It  cast  a 
shadow  over  my  path  which  no  siinshine  from  the  high  jtlaces  of  earth  could 
possibly  dispel :  for  the  honor  so  graciously  bestowed  i)n  me  by  your  too 
partial '  friendship  borders  closely  on  the  confines  of  the  most  solenm 
responsibilities  that  man  can  assume,  and  Severs  ties  the  most  tender  that 
can  bind  man  to  his  fellow-man.  All  that  I  can  hope  to  do  is  to  labor,  prayer- 
fully and  in  meekness  of  spirit,  for  the  good  of  the  body,  over  which  I  am 
called  to  watch,  as  one  who  must  give  account.  Such  as  I  have  I  give  unto 
you.  For  the  poverty  of  the  offering,  others  are  responsible  :  for  I  sought 
not  you.  biit  you  me.  Unitv  and  harmony  are  essential  to  our  success. 
The  iteuderest  regard  to  the  feelings  we  mutually  cherish,  and  true  brotherly 
sympathy,  will  keep  the  golden  chain   that  binds  us  bright;  and  in  this- 


204  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

noble  self-sacrifice  for  the  good  of  the  body  we  must  never  forget   that  it  is 
GOD  alone  who  makes  the  members  of  a  house  to  dwell  together  in  unity."  * 

Dr.  PiNKNEY  had  fully  reached  the  sixtieth  year  of  his  age  when 
he  \\'as  consecrated  Bishop.  Called  to  the  Episcopate  at  an  age 
when  men  iisually  shrink  from  new  labors  and  grave  resjDonsi- 
bilities,  he  entered  upon  the  work  with  the  earnestness  and  zeal 
that  had  characterized  all  his  past  life  ;  and  for  the  next  thii'teen 
years  that  he  was  spared  to  labor  in  the  Ejjiscopate  he  accom- 
plished an  amount  of  arduous  work  that  could  not  have  been 
exceeded  l)y  a  young  and  vigorous  man. 

The  coming  of  such  a  man  at  such  a  time  into  the  Episcopate 
was  a  great  blessing  to  the  Diocese  of  Maryland.  The  marked 
unanimity  of  his  election  was  of  itself  an  evidence  of  the  almost 
universal  feeling  in  the  diocese  that  he  was  just  the  person  to 
meet  the  needs  of  the  Church  at  the  period.  All  previous  elec- 
tions to  the  Episcopate  in  Maryland,  from  the  time  of  the  first 
Bishop,  Claggett,  had  been  attended  with  delays,  and  with  strong 
and  bitter  partisan  contentions.  The  absence  of  all  this  in  Dr. 
Pixkney's  election  was  very  noted. 

Even  those  who  on  princijDle  were  opposed  to  Assistant  Bishops, 
and  who,  perhaps,  felt  that  it  would  be  hard  to  find  anywhere  a 
man  to  be  placed  by  the  side  of  Bishop  "NVhittingham,  and  be  his 
successor,  could  not  help  seeing  that  an  election  so  nearly  unani- 
mous called  for  cheerful  acquiescence.  As  resj^ects  the  laity 
throughout  the  diocese,  the  feeling,  with  scarce  a  single  exception, 
was  strong  and  decided  towards  the  selection  of  one  who  was 
known  to  be  thoroughly  identified  in  sympathy  and  interest 
with  the  people,  and  who  was  as  noted  for  his  sound  conservative 
churchmanship  as  he  Avas  for  the  urbanity  of  his  manners,  his 
personal  piety,  and  liis  successful  ministry  in  the  priesthood. 

Ujion  his  consecration  to  the  Episcopate,  Dr.  Pinkxey, 
l^romptly,  and  in  a  very  touching  and  beautiful  letter,  resigned 
the  rectorship  of  the  parish  of  the  Ascension ;  to  which,  in 
response,  the  vestrj'  sent  the  following  communication : 

'•  Washington.  D.  C.  October  18.  187  0. 

*'  Et.   Rev.   Vv  TLLIAM  PiNKNEY  ,    D.   D.. 

"A-stfi/ftant  Bishop  of  Marylfind. 

"  IIt.  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir  :  In.  formally  accepting  your  resignation  of  the 
rectorship  of  Ascension  Parish,  the  vestry  caiiuot  forbear  the  expression  of 
the  profound  sorrow  they  iudividually  feel  at  the  severance  of  the  kiudly 
relations  which  have  for  so  long"  a  period  existed  Ijetween  us. 

"  Our  separation  is  no  ordinary  one,  for  while  there  should  always  exist 
l>etween  pastor  and  people  ties  of  a  nature  so  tender  as  to  render  parting 
painful,  those  which  have  so  happily  bound  us  spring  from  a  deeper 
source,  have  their  origin  and  their  being  in  heart  affections,  which  only  the 
most  intimate  association  can  engender.      We  then  are  not  only  your  parish- 


*See  Journal  of  Convention,  1871,  pages  32  and  33. 


LIFE    OF    I'.ISHOP    I'lXKNEY.  205 

iouers,  but  your  warm  personal   friends,  and   feel    with  all   the  acuteness  of 
which  sueh  friendship  is  eapable  the  separation  that  awaits  us. 

"  Our  sorrow  at  parting'  with  one  so  endeared  to  its  in  the  double  relation 
of  pastor  and  friend  is  oidy  initiLcated  by  the  rcHeetion  that  you  leave  us  to 
enter  iipon  the  more  extended  Held  of  duty  imjiosed  by  the  lii^h  and  holy 
office  to  which,  in  the  (jrder  of  Divine  Providence,  you  have  been  so  flatter- 
ingly called. 

•*  In  your  new  work  our  prayers,  our  hearts,  and  our  sympathies  will  be 
with  you  ;  and,  bidding  you  Godspeed,  we  shall  ever  watch  with  affectionate 
pride  your  progress  through  life's  rugged  pathway,  feeling  that  the  /iin/it/p 
will  but  perfect  what  the  Priext  had  so  nobly  and  faithfully  begun. 

'•  Thanking  you  most  sincerely  for  the  kind  expressions  contained  in  your 
letter  of  resignation,  we  beg  leave  to  subscribe  ourselves  your  friends  and 
servants. 

"(Signed)  W.  W.  CORCOKAN. 

H.  S.  DAVIS. 

JAMES  B.  DODSON. 

W.  M.  SHXTSTEll. 

N.   W.   BimCHELL. 

BUSHKOD  BIRCH. 

R.  W.  BITRGESS. 

J.  T.  STEVENS. 

J.  M.  DUNCANSON, 

•  '^  RegiK.ter.'" 


206  LIFE   OF   BISHOr   PINKNEY. 


CHAPTEE  XXII. 

Proposed    Assignment    of    Work    and    Jurisdiction — Appointments  foe 
Visitation.     1870. 

Immediately  after  his  consecration,  the  Assistant  Bishop  desired 
to  make  his  arrangements  for  visitations  throughout  all  those 
portions  of  the  whole  diocese,  including  the  District  of  Columbia, 
which,  for  manj^  years,  in  consequence  of  the  Bishop's  physical 
disal  )ility,  had  been  deprived  of  Episcopal  ser\ices.  By  the  pro- 
visions of  the  canons  of  the  Church,  it  is  appointed  that  "  the 
Assistant  Bishop  shall  perform  such  Episcopal  duties  and  exer- 
cise such  Episcopal  authority  in  the  diocese  as  the  Bishop  shall 
assign  to  him.""  * 

On  the  7th  of  October,  the  day  after  the  consecration,  Bishop 
"NVhittingham  wrote  to  the  Assistant  Bishop  a  cordial  letter 
regretting  and  explaming  his  absence  from  the  consecrating  ser- 
^•ices,  and  expressing  his  gratification  in  having  such  valued  help 
in  the  Episcopate  of  the  diocese.  In  his  letter  Bishop  Whitting- 
ham  proposed  and  informally  made  an  assignment  of  work  for 
the  Assistant  Bishop  and  himself,  which  gave  rise  to  some  grave 
questions  under  the  canon  as  to  the  sphere  and  work  of  the 
Assistant  Bishop,  led  to  some  correspondence  between  the 
Bishops,  and  occasioned  no  little  anxiety  throughout  the  diocese. 

It  appears  that  sometime  l)efore  the  consecration  of  Dr.  Pixk- 
XEY,  a  movement  had  been  started  for  the  senior  Bishop  to  vacate 
the  Episcopal  residence  in  Baltimore,  remove  to  "Washington  with 
his  library,  for  which  it  was  proposed  that  a  fire-proof  building- 
should  be  erected,  make  that  city  his  permanent  residence,  and 
take  under  his  control  the  exclusive  Episcopal  administration  of 
the  District  of  Columbia.  To  the  Assistant  Bishop,  for  his  juris- 
diction and  field  of  work,  was  to  be  assigned  all  that  part  of  the 
diocese  comprised  within  the  territorial  limits  of  the  Westei'n 
Shoi-e  of  Maryland.  If  the  movement  did  not  originate  with  the 
Bishop  himself,  he  certainly  deshed  very  earnestly  to  have  the 
measure  carried  into  effect,  as  will  be  subsequently  seen. 

At  the  close  of  the  convention  in  May,  1870,  when  Dr.  Pixkxey 
was  elected  Assistant  Bishop,  Bishop  Whittingham"s  health  was 
so  "  broken  doAvn  "  that,  as  he  speaks  in  his  address  to  the  con- 
vention of  the  next  year  :  f 


*  See  Digest,  Title  I,  Can.  15,  §  5. 

+  See  Convention  Address,  Journal,  1871,  page  25. 


l.ll'i;    dl'    I'.ISIKM'    I'lNKNI'.V.  'Jll? 

"  I  was  obliged  ti)  st'ck  the  bi'iietit  of  a  chiiiigf  of  aii,  ami  i-i.imiiil  tlif 
adiiiiiiistratioii  of  (>ccli'siastical  authority  in  tlic  (linccsc,  untlcr  t  In-  pruvisioiis 
of  the  canons,  to  the  Standing  Connnittce.  from  tlic  '2,'Ah  of  .luly  until  after 
the  hajjpy  cousmnniation  of  the  restoration  of  diocesan  dliciency  l>y  the 
consecration  of  the  Kev.  Dr.  Pinkney  on  the  C.th  of  Octoher. 

"  I  was  not  even  able  to  be  jjresent  at  that  anspicioiis  event,  nor  to  ven- 
ture ou  rettiru  home  until  the  middle  of  November.  From  that  time  to  the 
present  I  have  mainly  contined  my  endeavors  to  perform  the  active  duties 
of  the  Episcopate  to  the  parishes  within  the  District  of  Columbia,  assigning 
all  the  remainder  of  the  diocese  to  the  oversight  and  labijr  of  my  most 
willing  and  indefatigabl(>  assistant." 

The  letter,  in  -wliicli  Bishop  AVhittiiioh;un  did  so,  on  the  7th  of 
October,  is  as  follows  : 

•■  Okange,  N.  J.,  Ortolxr  7.  '70. 

"My  Deae  Bishop:  My  heart  was  with  you  and  the  (•()nii)any  gathered 
in  our  Master's  name  yesterday  from  earliest  dawn  to  midnight :  but  the 
storms  of  last  week  and  this  made  it  impossible  to  venture  the  journey 
without  hazarding  all  that  has  been  hitherto  gained  in  my  condition,  and 
I  knew  that  no  gain  by  my  jiresence  among  you  could  make  up  for  the 
needless  prolongation  of  my  almost  complete  uselessuess  and  worthlessness 
in  my  present  condition. 

"  Until  Tuesday  of  this  week,  I  had  still  confidently  hoped  to  go  on  to 
the  consecration. 

"  In  that  case  I  should  have  been  able,  at  Baltimore,  to  prepare  an  instru- 
ment formally  assigning  to  you  the  contemplated  share  of  imr  common 
work. 

"  But  now,  I  think  to  remain  in  my  f]^i;iet  seclusion  until  after  the  meet- 
ings in  New  York,  toward  the  close  of  the  month  :  and  in  the  meanwhile 
shall  be,  as  now,  separate  from  my  official  books,  i)a])ers.  Arc. 

"  You  will,  I  hope,  kindly  excuse  this  delay  of  regular  action,  and  accept 
my  informal  ccmsignment  of  Maryland  proper  to  your  care  and  government 
as  your  sufficient  warrant  and  incitement  to  the  exercise  of  any  and  all 
kinds  of  Episcopal  functions  and  oversight  in  all  that  part  of  the  diocese 
until  further  action  on  my  part. 

"  May  I  ask  you  kindly  to  let  me  know  what  the  parish  of  the  Ascension 
is  now  likely  to  do  ?    It  is,  of  course,  a  matter  of  no  small  interest  to  me. 

"  With  heartiest  pi'ayers  for  the  fiiUest  measure  of  divine  blessing  on  the 
noble  emprise  you  have  before  you,  I  am  ever 

"  Your  faithful  and  loving  brother. 
'■  lit.  Rev.  Dr.  Pinkney.  W.   K.   WHITTINGHAM. 

**  Afis/'sta?it  B/ii/a/p  of  Maryland." 

To  the  foregoing  letter  Bishop  Pixkxey  replied  at  length,  set- 
ting forth  very  decidedly  and  strongly  his  views  concerning  the 
jjroposed  arrangement,  as  contravening  the  purpose  and  proN-is- 
ions  of  the  canon  in  relation  to  Assistant  Bishops : 

'' Bhhop  Pinkney  to  Bishop  WMUingham. 

"  OcUiher  12,  '70. 
"  My  Dear  Bishop  :  I  thank  you  for  the  kind  words  you  sent  me  in  yours 
of  the  7th  inst.,  and  can  only  "reiterate  my  regret  that  you  were  n<it  able 
to  be  present  at  my  consecration.  I  was  glad  to  hear  that  you  hail  deter- 
mined not  to  abandon  your  present  seclusion  until  your  duties  call  you  to 
New  York. 


208  LIFE    OF    BISHOr    riNKNEY. 

"In  your  letter  you  speak  of  'an  informal  consignment  of  Maryland 
proper  to  my  care  and  government ;'  also  of  '  Episcopal  functions  and  over- 
sight in  all  that  part  of  the  diocese  until  further  action  on  your  part.' 

""  By  this  do  I  understand  you  to  mean  that  you  propose  to  exercise 
exclusive  jurisdiction  over  that  part  oi  the  diocese  which  is  located  in  the 
District  of  ColumV)ia.  and  pass  over  to  me  like  exclusive  jurisdiction  over 
the  balance":'  If  this  is  your  meaning  I  must,  most  respectfully  and  after 
the  calmest  consideration',  express  to  you  my  dissent  from  your  construction 
of  the  canon.  It  is  best  for  us  to  understand  each  other  fully  and  distinctly 
at  the  start.  As  I  read  the  canon,  which  you  well  know  is  the  law  that 
binds  me  as  well  as  yourself,  it  is  the  inability  of  the  Bishop  which  alone 
justifies  the  creation  of  the  office  I  hold.  '  When  a  Bishop  is  unable  by 
reason  of  old  age  or  other  permanent  catise  of  intirmity  to  discharge  the 
Episcopal  duties,  one  Assistant  Bishop  may  be  elected  by  and  for  the 
Diocese,'  etc.  The  General  Church  approaches  this  provision  of  relief  with 
extremest  jealoitsy  and  caution.  It  is  expressly  stated  that  an  Assistant 
may  be  elected  whenever  the  Bishop  is  in  a  condition  of  permanent  physical 
infirmity  that  precludes  his  full  discharge  of  duty,  and  only  then.  It  is, 
therefore,  a  remedial  canon.  I  think  that  much  light  is  thrown  upon  this 
canon  by  this  significant  fact.  It  was  not  to  enal)le  a  Bishop  to  stibdivide 
jurisdiction,  and  thus  virtually  make  two  dioceses  out  of  one,  that  the 
canon  was  passed :  but  just  the  contrary,  as  the  cavise  assigned  for  the 
appointment — permanent  physical  infirmity — and  the  last  cUiuse  of  the 
canon  conclusively  show.  The  Assistant  is  chosen  and  elected  by  the  diocese, 
and  not  only  so,  but  for  the  diocese.  All  the  diocese  is  interested  in  the 
provision  made,  and  is  entitled  to  the  benefits  of  it  wherever  the  service 
needed  is  beyond  the  present  ability  of  the  Bishop.  It  is  to  meet  the  wants 
of  the  whole  diocese  that  the  creation  of  the  office  was  warranted  by  legal 
enactment.  I  know,  and  no  one  more  rejoices  in  the  knowledge  of  the  fact 
than  I  do.  that  all  the  duty, that  may  be  assigned  to  the  Assistant  he  must 
perform,  and  that  he  can  perform  no  duty  that  is  not  so  assigned.  All  that 
the  Bishop  can  do,  in  any  part  of  it,  it  is  his  clear  prerogative  to  do. 

•'  But  the  canon  that  creates  the  office  I  hold  expressly  forbids  election 
of  a  suffragan  Bishop.  The  parts  of  a  canon  must  be  consistent  with  each 
other.  No  construction  that  sets  them  in  opposition  to  each  other  can  be- 
sound.  The  one  throws  light  on  the  other,  illustrates  and  establishes  it. 
The  taking  one  part  of  the  diocese  to  the  exclusion  of  the  Assistant,  and 
the  consignment  of  the  other  abs(jlutely  to  his  control,  is  precisely  the 
thing  which  I  think  the  canon  prohibits. 

"  So  thinking,  I  am  in  duty  bound  to  make  it  known  to  you.  I  do  not  pro- 
pose to  enter  on  the  argument  at  large,  nor  do  I  propose  to  define  my  course 
of  action.  I  merely  wish  to  state  formally  my  views,  honestly  entertained, 
of  the  canon,  and  save  myself  from  well-deserved  blame,  shoiild  I  seemingly 
acquiesce  in  a  construction  of  the  law  which  I  do  not  believe  sound.  I  am 
I)repared  t(j  do  any  duty,  go  anywhere,  at  all  times.  In  the  consignment 
of  duty,  you  may  draw  a  line  around  the  District  more  clearly  defined  than 
the  present  civil  boundary,  if  that  be  possible,  and  thus  practically  shut  me 
out  from  all  participation  in  the  work  going  on  there:  but  still  it  must  be 
distinctly  understood  that  I  claim  to  be,  under  the  canon,  the  Assistant 
Bisho])  of  the  diocese,  not  only  elected  by  the  diocese,  but  for  the  diocese, 
the  whole  diocese — as  well  that  part  of  it  which  lies  in  theDistrict  of  Colum- 
bia, as  that  part  of  it  which  is  located  in  Maryland:  and  that  in  no  part  of 
it  can  duty,  which  it  is  not  in  the  present  power  of  the  Bishop  to  discharge, 
as  the  needs  of  the  diocese  require,  be  rightfully  foreclosed  against  me.  All 
I  wisii  is  to  put  myself  right  V)efore  the  Church  and  the  diocese.  I  shall 
most  cheerfully  do  the  work  you  assign  in  the  exercise  of  the  jurisdictit)n 
and  authority  the  canon  imposes  on  me.  But  still  I  can  make  no  waver  of 
my  own  rights  under  the  canon,  nor  can  I  jeopard  the  rights  of  the  Presby- 


LIFE    OF    ]!1S11()1'    I'lXKNEY.  'H)'J 

ters  and  laymen  in  the  District  of  Cohuiihia  wIki  Wfi-i-.  at  your  own  suf^f^et*- 
tion,  parties  to  the  ehn-tion  under  the  canon,  and  wlio  were,  in  connnun 
with  others,  the  sutierers  under  the  hinieuted  disability  of  the  Bi.sht>ii.  and 
are  as  nmeh  entitled  to  the  relief  it  prolfers  as  any  other  jjarties  of  tlie  unr 
diocese,  which  we  have,  by  solemn  vott'  as  a  diocese  declared  shall  \>r  nii.-. 

"I  have  thus,  my  dear  Bishop,  discharged  my  duty,  cahnly  F  tru-.t.  and 
in  the  spirit  of  love. 

"  Yours  atlectiouately, 

"  W.    I'INKXEY. 
"  Rt.  Rev.  W.  K.  Whittinuham,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

"  N.  B. — I  have  delayed  this  letter  some  days,  that  I  might  act  with  the 
i;tmost  deliberation  and  the  wisest  precaution,  and  most  ndrinftUi/.'' 

One  week  after  the  date  of  the  precediiio-  letter,  wliilc  still  at 
Orauge,  N.  J.,  seeking  rest  and  reeu[)eration,  Bishop  AVhittingham, 
on  the  19th  of  October,  addressed  another  eommunication  to  the 
Assistant  Bishop,  in  which  he  very  fully  and  strongly  set  forth 
the  reasons  and  considerations  that  moved  him  to  desire  the 
consummation  of  the  proposed  arrangement  of  separate  work  and 
jurisdiction. 

The  whole  letter  is  of  so  marked  a  character,  and  of  so  much 
interest,  that  it  is  here  introduced  in  full,  with  the  Bishop's 
italics,  &c. : 

"  Okange,  N.  J.,  October  19,  '70. 

"My  Dear  Bishop:  The  assignment  of  distribution  of  our  joint  respim- 
sibility  and  work  which  I  have  made  was  not  concluded  on  without  long 
and  anxious  consideration,  and  careful  experiment  and  measurement  of  mj- 
own  capabilities  and  power. 

"  As  you  well  know,  it  was  not  until  after  years  of  reiterated  trials,  bring- 
ing on  constant  failures,  that  I  acquiesced  in  the  conviction  of  my  own 
inability  to  manage  and  w-ork  the  large  and  rapidly  growing  diocese  of 
which  I  foimd  myself  in  charge. 

"  The  result  of  my  long  course  of  experiment  was  my  assured  conviction 
that  I  was  no  longer  competent  to  sustain  either  the  mental  wear  involved 
in  the  care  of  so  many  clergymen  and  parishes,  or  the  bodily  fatigue  of  visi- 
tation of  the  large  portions  lying  outside  of  the  great  cities. 

"  It  was  in  this  conviction  that  I  felt  myself  compelled  to  state  to  the 
diocese  the  need  of  making  such  provision  for  my  relief  as  is  sanctioned 
by  the  canons. 

'"  The  only  alternative  was  resignation.  As  the  simpler  mode  of  putting 
the  diocese  into  competent  hands,  my  personal  preference  would  have  been 
to  resort  to  that  alternative.  But  others,  both  within  the  diocese  and  with- 
out it,  were  unanimoiis  in  discoiintenancing  si;ch  a  course. 

"  At  the  suggestion  of  several  among  my  counsellors,  and  with  the  stnmg 
approval  of  others,  I  consented  to  retain  my  relation  to  the  diocese,  and 
look  to  the  convention  for  relief  of  my  disability. 

"Disability  for  the  c/targe  such  n«  it  is  in  itn  entirety,  and  for  the  kind  o£ 
work  which  the  larger  portion  of  it  demands  imperatively,  was  my  difliculty 
— not  absolute  disability /«/•  a7i//  charfje.  wor  for  all  kind  of  work. 

"  I  found  in  the  dioces'e  itself  a  natural  suggestion  of  segregation  from 
out  of  its  entire  charge  and  duty  of  a  portion  not  unsuited  to  my  remain- 
ing measure  of  ability.  About"  one-hfth  of  the  charge  and  a  sphere  of 
visitorial  duty  requiring  almost  no  amount  of  travel  was  included  in  the 
District  of  Columbia,  where  difference  of  secular  law  made  a  quite  distinct 
sphere  of  administration. 


210  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

"This  I  resolved  to  reserve  as  my  own  modicum  of  responsibility  and 
work,  many  months  before  your  election  took  place. 

"After  that  resolve  I  felt  satisfied  with  the  prospect  before  me  of  a 
modified  amount  of  care  and  work  proportioned  to  my  decayed  strength  of 
body  and  mind  and  declining  years,  with  an  assurance  to  the  diocese  of  an 
increase  of  Episcopal  supervision  and  work  adequate  to  the  supply  of  all 
its  needs. 

'  •  With  the  choice  of  the  diocese  in  providing  the  person  to  whom  it  and 
I  were  to  look  for  our  relief,  all  know  that  I  exerted  no  manner  of  inter- 
ference. On  the  contrary,  I  awaited  it  in  trembling  expectation,  as  the 
indication  of  Divine  blessing  on  my  plau,  or  otherwise,  according  to  the 
result. 

"  Had  that  choice  fallen  on  a  person  of  comparative  youth  and  inexperi- 
■ence,  or  of  qualifications  little  known  and  trusted.  I  might  have  found  it 
difiicult  so  to  assign  a  share  of  the  work  as  to  relieve  myself  of  the  entire 
responsibility  for  the  direction  of  the  whole. 

"  But  the  whole  Church  knows  and  testifies  that  a  signal  Divine  blessing 
guided  the  convention  to  a  very  different  result. 

"  A  choice  was  made  which  no  man  dotibted  to  have  been  such  as  would 
have  been  eminently  fit  had  the  diocese  been  vacant.  The  diocese  rejjosed 
its  trust  in  one  known  to  all.  loved  by  all,  trusted  by  all,  tried  by  a  long 
course  of  ministry  in  its  midst,  and  for  years  practised  in  administrative 
work  in  a  leading  position. 

"'  I  could  have  no  remaining  doubt  about  my  course.  God  had  jjrovided 
a  man  able  and  fit  for  taking  the  ichole  charge.  Nothing  but  the  most  sense- 
less egotism  could  make  me  doubt  about  devolving  upon  him  all  that  I 
might  know  to  be  beyond  my  own  competence,  not  only  without  apprehen- 
sion of  ill  result  to  the  diocesan  interests,  but  on  the  contrary  in  full 
expectation  of  the  happiest  fruits  of  the  infusion  of  new  life  and  unwonted 
vigor  into  all  its  counsels  and  operations. 

'*  Especially,  I  felt  the  importance  of  the  result  in  reference  to  my  chief 
difficulty — the  wear  upon  me  of  the  contintial  mental  strain  in  the  manage- 
ment of  so  large  and  important  a  diocese. 

"  Maryland  had  wisely  chosen  her  most  honored  son,  native  to  her  soil, 
familiar  through  all  his  life  with  her  wants  and  capabilities,  her  dispositions 
and  desires.  Was  such  a  one  to  be  made  the  mere  organ  of  another  mind 
and  will  ?  The  very  fitness  of  things  in  itself,  apart  from  any  consideration 
of  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the  case,  would  suggest  provision  for  such 
an  one  of  a  worthy  charge,  a  distinct,  unhampered,  and  untrammelled  career, 
in  a  definite,  and,  as  far  as  might  be.  independent  trust. 

'"  A.sfar  as  might  he,  I  say,  for — observe,  my  dear  Bishop — I  propose  no 
substitution  of  a  suffragan  for  an  assistant,  no  evasion  of  a  canon  by 
resignation  of  any  portion  of  my  official  trust. 

"  What  I  do,  is  to  say  once  for  all : 

"  I  can  trust  my  assistant  witii  the  entire  responsibility  and  control  of  all 
that  part  of  my  diocese  for  which  I  find  myself  incompetent.  He  shall  not 
have  to  run  to  me  for  sanction  of  what  his  heart  shall  counsel,  or  the  word 
of  command  for  what  his  hand  shall  find  to  do.  He  shall  await  no  beck  or 
nod  of  mine  to  take  the  spring  out  of  his  own  energies  and  the  confidence 
out  of  his  friends'  co-operative  efforts.  He  and  they  shall  know  a  work 
worthj'  of  him  as  his  own  ;  and  that  it  may  be  completely  and  effecttially 
so,  my  reserved  modicum  shall  be  equally  distinct  in  its  appropriation  to 
me,  as  my  selected  share  of  the  work  which  he  is  sent  to  help  me  carry  out. 

"  Such,  my  dear  Bishop,  is  the  history  and  description  of  the  intent  and 
purport  of  my  assignment  to  you  (jf  '  Maryland  proper '  as  the  sphere  of 
your  Episcopal  duties  and  exercise  of  Episcopal  authority. 

"  It  means  freedom  and  sup]>ort  for  you;  relief  and  solace  of  a  shattered 
mental  and  bodilv  constitution  for  me. 


LIFE    OF    BISllOl-    I'lNKNKV.  -2\\ 

"  Kiirt'ly  I  have  a  liyht  to  expect,  on  the  <;rouii(l  of  mir  loiij^,  iiiiliniken 
frieiidshi]) ;  of  the  close  bonds  of  Christian  love,  in  which  we  have  lieen  so 
thoioni^hly  drawn  tofj;etlier ;  of  the  new  tenderer  relations  in  which  we  have 
now  been  placed  by  our  partnership  in  the  hi^h  vows  of  the  Ajiostohite; 
that  the  veteran  shall  not  tind  himself  utterly  thwarted,  disai)pointed, 
broken  down,  and  forced  into  the  alternative  of  total  relincpiislinient  of 
ofHce,  or  an  endli'ss.  hopeless,  sonl-witlierini^  struj,'>^le  with  a  burden  too 
heavy  for  his  strength  by  the  unwilliiij^ness  of  one  chosen  to  Ijc  liis  assist- 
ant to  render  him  assistance  in  which  alone  Ion";  ctmsideration  and 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  work  have  satisfied  him  that  he  can  l)e  really 
and  effectually  assisted  I 

"  Dear  Bishop  !  I  throw  myself  upon  your  charity  in  CHIUST,  and  am, 
most  faithfully  and  truly, 

"  Your  ever  loving  friend  and  brother, 

"W.   11.   WIHTTINGHAM. 
"  lU.  Rev.  Dr.  Pinkney, 

"'AHsistniit  Bishop  of  the  I)ioce><e  of  Maryhmdy 

To  the  foregoing  letter  Bishop  Pinkney  sent  a  most  respectful 
and  affectionate  re})ly.  l)iit  at  the  same  time  he  expressed  himself 
very  decidedly  upon  all  the  points  he  had  set  forth  iu  his  previous 
letter  to  the  Bishop.  The  first  paragraphs  of  Bishop  Pinkney's 
letter  will  sufficiently  inthcate  the  spirit  and  feehng  of  the  writer  : 

"My  Dear  Bishop:  Your  letter  reached  me  only  yesterday,  not  having 
been  directed  to  my  post-oflfiee  iu  Washington. 

"  I  trust  I  am  not  without  a  proper  regard  for  the  feelings  ycm  express, 
touching  your  diminished  powers  of  usefulness  and  physical  caiiabilities 
of  service  in  a  diocese  over  which  you  have  so  long  presided,  and  especially 
that  portion  of  it  which  has  shared  most  largely  in  your  love  and  lal)ors  of 
love.  I  triist  I  am  not  wanting  iu  the  sympathy  which  a  condition  like 
yours  ought  to  awaken  in  every  feeling  heart :  but  still  I  must  be  true  to 
the  clear  canonical  rights  of  the  office  1  bear,  and  not  less  true  t(j  the  breth- 
ren, clerical  and  lay.  who  were  pleased  to  i)lace  me  in  the  responsible 
position  of  Assistant  Bishop,  in  common  with  the  other  portions  of  the 
diocese. 

"  I  do  not  question  your  right  to  do  all  the  duty  you  can  anywhere  iu 
the  sphere  of  your  supreme  jiirisdiction.  I  do  not  wish  yoia  to  forego  the 
pleasure  of  work  and  oversight  in  any  quarter  of  the  diocese  which  you  may 
select  from  time  to  time  as  the  spot  of  your  Episcopal  laljors.  Nothing  is 
further  from  my  wish  and  desire." 

Bishop  Pinkney  then  goes  on  to  reiterate  the  views  he  had  pre- 
sented in  his  previous  letter,  to  the  effect  that  the  disabihty 
which  the  canon  contemplates  is  a  disability  that  touches  the 
diocese  at  every  point,  and  tlie  remedy  provided  is  a  remedy  that 
is  equally  co-extensive  with  the  bounds  of  the  diocese — that  the 
diocese  was  one  and  that,  as  the  Assistant  Bishop  of  the  diocese, 
his  formal  exclusion  from  any  part  thereof  would  contravene  the 
end  and  purpose  of  his  election  and  the  true  sphere  of  his  work 
in  any  or  all  parts  of  the  diocese  where  his  Episcopal  services 
would  be  needed — ser^dces  he  was  most  ready  and  able  to  per- 
form. The  Bishop  might  assign  to  him,  as  the  Assistant  Bishop 
lor  the  diocese,  any  duties  ;  but  this  was  a  very  different  thing 


212  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

from  the  formal  segregation  of  any  one  part  from  the  rest  and 
the  practical  exclusion  of  the  Assistant  from  that  part  so  segre- 
gated :  in  tine,  that  having  been,  for  so  many  years,  rector  of  a 
parish  in  Washington  city,  where  the  people  were  much  endeared 
to  him  and  he  to  them,  to  be  practically  shut  out  from  any  Epis- 
copal ministrations  in  Washington  and  the  District  of  Columbia 
would  be  a  great  hardship,  especially  as  he  intended  to  continue 
his  family  residence  on  the  outsknts  of  Washington,  and  pm- 
posed  in  no  event  to  remove  his  residence  to  Baltimore  city  and 
there  occupy  the  Episcopal  residence. 

The  Assistant  Bishop  had  no  power  to  interfere  in  the  matter. 
Beyond  his  earnest  protest  and  this  expression  of  his  \-iews  there 
was  nothing  further  that  he  could  do.  Those  of  the  clergy  and 
laity  in  Washington  city  who  were  intimate  with  him  know  how 
deeply  disturbed  and  distressed  he  was  by  this  contemplated 
movement  on  the  part  of  the  senior  Bishop. 

The  movement  met  with  very  decided  opposition  in  Baltimore, 
and  was  not  known  to  be  favored  to  any  considerable  extent  in 
AVashington  city  and  the  District  of  Columbia.  It  assumed, 
however,  so  grave  an  aspect  that  the  Standing  Committee,  on  the 
7tli  of  December,  in  1870,  addi-essed  a  communication  to  the 
Bishop  deprecatmg  any  such  action  on  his  part.  They  sent  to 
the  Bishop,  by  the  hands  of  a  committee  of  three  of  then-  body, 
the  following  resolution  : 

''  Hf. solved.  That  the  Standing  Committee,  acting  as  a  council  of  advice, 
deem  it  a  solemn  duty  to  advise  the  Bishop  of  the  diocese  of  the  fact  that, 
from  information  laid  before  them,  his  contemplated  removal  fi'om  the  city 
of  Baltimore,  leaving  the  residence  provided  for  him  by  the  diocese  and. 
confining  his  Episcopal  duties  to  the  District  of  Columbia,  will  not  be  pro- 
motive of  the  peace  or  of  the  healthy  growth  of  the  Church  in  the  diocese." 

This  scheme,  if  carried  out,  would  have  been  tantamount  to 
making  ti/'o  dioceses  out  of  the  one  Diocese  of  Marjdand,  and  that 
without  any  action  of  the  diocesan  and  general  conventions. 

Happily  the  measure  was  never  consummated.  The  continuing 
and  increasing  feebleness  of  the  Bishops  health  made  it  apparent 
that  even  within  the  restricted  sphere  of  the  District  of  Columbia 
he  would  not  be  able  to  perform  full  Episcopal  duty  :  and  it  was 
found  that  the  removal  would  involve  such  material  changes,  grave 
difficulties,  and  heavy  expenditures  that  it  was  abandoned. 

The  measure  was  opposed  also  by  very  many  on  the  ground 
that  it  would  prove  an  initiatory  movement  towards  diocesan 
division.  So  strong,  indeed,  was  the  feeling  at  that  time  against 
the  setting  oft"  of  the  District  of  Columbia  as  a  separate  diocese, 
that  in  the  Convention  of  1871  a  resolution  was  introduced  by 
Mr.  Bernard  Carter,  one  of  the  able  and  prominent  lay  delegates 
of  the  body,  as  follows : 

^'■ReHolved,  That  any  delegation  sent  by  this  convention  to  the  General 
Convention  of  the  Protestant  Einscopal  Church  are  hereby  instructed  to- 


LIFE    OF    lilSilOl-    I'lNKNEY.  213 

■oppose  auy  movcmeut  lookint;  to  the  furtht'i-  division  of  tli.-  Diocese  of 
Maryland  or  to  the  setting  off  of  the  District  of  Coliuubia  as  u  separate 
diocese." 

This  rosolutioii  Wiis  deemocl  to  be  iiicoiisistciit  with  the  lilst 
rule  of  order,  aiul  was  not  received. 

Uix)n  the  suspension  of  the  rule  of  order,  ]Mr.  Carter  llicii 
■offered  the  following  I'esolution  : 

'■'■Rendlved,  That  this  convention  is  clearly  of  the  opinion  that  no  action 
■can  or  should  be  taken  in  the  General  Coilvention  lookiny  to  a  further  divis- 
ion of  the  Diocese  of  Maryland,  or  to  the  settinj,'  apart  of  the  District  of 
Columbia  as  a  separate  diocese,  but  that  any  measures  lookin-,'  to  sucli  fur- 
ther division  can  only  properly  begin  in  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese  of 
Maryland." 

For  which  resolution  Mr.  Carter  accepted  as  a  substitute  the 
following,  offered  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Leeds,  and  which  was  adopted 
by  the  convention  : 

'■'■Rexolved.  That  the  convention  is  not  in  favor  of  auy  further  division  of 
the  diocese,  or  of  bringing  any  proposition  before  the  General  Convention 
bearing  on  this  matter." 

So  clear  and  emphatic  Avas  the  expression  by  the  convention 
against  any  movements  towards  a  division  of  the  diocese.  And 
so,  it  may  be  said,  the  matter  was  set  at  rest  for  the  remainder 
of  Bishoj)  Whittingham"s  Episcopate  and  for  the  whole  period  of 
Bishop  PiNKNEYS  Episcopate. 

Bishop  PiNKNEY  had  expected  that  one  of  the  earliest  acts  of 
his  Episcopate  would  be  the  consecration  of  St.  Paul's  Church, 
Rock  Creek  parish,  in  the  District  of  Columbia.  From  the  fact 
that  he  had  been  once  called  to  its  rectorship  and  from  his  long 
residence  near  the  parisli.  his  close  associations  with  the  rector, 
vestry,  and  people,  he  very  naturally  desired  to  perform  that  sacred 
office.  It  was  supposed  also  that  the  health  of  the  senior  Bishop 
would  hardly  be  such  as  to  enable  him  to  officiate  on  the  occasion. 

But  inasmuch  as,  after  Dr.  Pinkney's  consecration  to  the  Epis- 
copate, an  assignment  of  duty  was  j^roposed  by  which  the  senior 
Bishoj:)  was  to  take  exclusive  Episcopal  charge  of  the  District  of 
Columbia,  Bishop  Pinkney's  anticipation  of  acting  as  the  couse- 
crator  could  not  be  realized.  He  had  already  prepared  the  sermon 
wdiich  he  intended  to  pi'each  on  the  occasion.  There  was  some 
delay  in  making  the  appointment  for  the  consecration.  It  was  at 
last  arranged  to  take  place  on  the  Gtli  of  July,  1.S71.  wlien  the 
senior  Bishop,  who  was  able  to  be  present,  acted  as  the  consccrator. 
and  Bishop  Pinkney  preached  the  sermon. 

In  his  address  to  the  convention  of  the  next  year  Bishop  Pink- 
ney thus  refers  to  the  interestmg  occasion : 

'•  July  6.— Attended  at  the  consecration  of  St.  Paul's,  Kock  Creek  parish, 
which  was  conducted  by  the  Bishop   of  the  diocese,  at   whose  request  I 


214  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

preached  the  sermon.  The  work  of  repair,  which  has  been  carried  on  in: 
this  sweet  rural  parish,  so  endeared  to  many  not  in  it,  nor  of  it.  is  worthy 
of  an  especial  notice.  The  congregation  and  the  rector  have,  at  great  self- 
sacritice  and  labor,  by  the  adoption  of  a  good  architectural  design,  succeeded 
in  making  the  old  church  exceedingly  beautiful,  and  with  equal  taste,  they 
have  put  the  grounds  in  excellent  order.  I  felt  a  natural  degree  of  both 
pride  and  jjleasure  in  the  contemplation  of  the  wonderful  changes  that  had 
been  wi-ought,  so  unobtrusively,  in  the  church  building  and  grounds ;  for 
Eock  Creek  parish  stands  identified  with  the  joys  and  labors  of  the  first 
years  of  my  ministry.  The  occasion  was,  therefore,  fiill  of  thrilling  remi- 
niscences :  and  the  privilege  of  mingling  my  joy  with  theirs,  in  the  moment 
of  their  complete  success  in  a  work  that  had  cost  them  much  anxiety  and  a 
heavy  outlay  of  means,  afforded  me  the  intensest  satisfaction." 

Some  historic  account  of  this  venerable  parish  chvu'ch  will  be 
given  in  the  chapter  which  refers  to  the  eiforts  made  for  the 
erection  upon  its  grounds  of  a  Chiux'h  School  for  Girls. 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    I'INKXEY.  215 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

His  Wohk  ah  Assistant  Bishop.     IhTO  '71. 

Very  great  was  the  pressure  for  Ei)iscopal  visitations  tbrou-^'li- 
out  the  diocese.  The  Assistant  Bishop  proceeded,  as  soon  as  he 
could  do  so  after  his  consecration,  to  make  his  appomtments. 
In  these  he  was  greatly  aided  l)^^  his  long  tried  and  most  intimate 
friend,  the  Eev.  Dr.  Meyer  Lewin.  Dr.  Lewin  was  so  familiar 
with  all  parts  of  the  diocese,  with  the  needs  of  the  several  parishes 
and  the  easiest  ways  of  reaching  them,  that  he  was  able  to  render 
invaluable  aid  to  the  Assistant  Bishop.  With  that  cheerful  and 
busy  alacrity  so  characteristic  of  him,  he  prepared  the  plans  and 
details  of  the  earlier  Episcopal  visitations  ;  and  he  continued  to 
do  so  as  long  as  the  Assistant  Bishop  needed  such  help. 

This,  together  with  the  known  close  intimacy  between  them, 
led  some  among  the  clergy  to  believe  that  Dr.  Lewin  was  seeking 
to  acquire  a  controlling  influence  over  the  mind  of  the  Assistant 
Bishop  and  in  the  administration  of  the  diocese  ;  than  which,  to 
both  of  them,  nothing  could  have  been  more  unjust  and  injurious. 
It  was  never  sought  by  the  one,  nor  would  it  have  been  submitted 
to  by  the  other.  Bishop  Pinkney's  actions  were  controlled 
throughout  the  whole  of  his  Episcopate  by  his  own  sense  of  right 
and  deep  convictions  of  duty,  and  he  was  always  ready  to  meet 
the  consecpiences  of  his  official  acts.  In  all  matters  of  importance 
he  sought  counsel  from  those,  both  clergymen  and  laymen,  in 
whose  judgment,  learning,  and  sincere  devotion  to  the  best  inter- 
ests of  the  Church  he  had  confidence  ;  but  he  always  reached  his 
own  deliberate  conclusions  independently  of  extraneous  influences. 
It  had  been  the  life  long  characteristic  of  his  ministry,  as  was 
markedly  shown  during  the  troubles  of  the  Civil  War ;  and  he 
was  not  the  man  to  shrink  from  any  personal  responsibilities 
when  the  higher  duties  of  the  Episcopate  devolved  upon  him.  It 
was  well  known  that  in  matters  of  importance  he  often  consulted 
the  Rev.  Dr.  McKenney,  who  had  been  prominent  and  honored  in 
Maryland  during  a  long  and  useful  ministry,  and  who  combined 
in  a  happy  degree  the  strictness  of  the  High  Churchman  with  the 
amenities  of  the  Christian  gentleman.  Bishop  Pixkxey  was 
Avarmly  attached  to  Dr.  McKenney.  They  were  both  Marylanders 
and  had  entered  the  ministry  about  the  same  time;  antl  there 
was  entii'e  agreement  between  them  upon  theological  and  Church 
matters.  The  Bishop  would  occasionally  stop  at  the  Laurel 
station  for  a  few  hours  consultation  with  his  friend,  or  only  in 
the  way  of  pleasant  social  converse. 


216  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

Ib  like  mauner.  as  lias  been  stated,  and  up  to  the  close  of  his 
life,  Bishop  Pinkney  held  consultations  from  time  to  time  with 
Dr.  Lewin.  so  confessedly  learned  in  the  ecclesiastical  laws,  gen- 
eral and  diocesan,  and  so  thoroughly  tenacious  of  what  he  believed 
to  he  the  true  teaching,  order,  and  discipline  of  the  Church.  Dr. 
Lewin  had  been  prominent  in  the  councils  of  the  Church  for  a 
number  of  years.  In  the  diocesan  and  general  conventions  he 
was  constantly  placed  on  important  committees  in  those  bodies. 
Learned  in  the  Scriptm-es,  in  ecclesiastical  history,  and  in  canon 
law,  he  was  an  able  expositor  of  the  constitution  of  our  American 
Church,  and  a  valiant  vindicator  of  the  whole  Chvu-ch  system  in 
its  truth,  its  order,  its  discipline,  and  its  liturgic  provisions.  He 
was  from  the  first  and  he  always  continued  to  be  a  High  Church- 
man :  but  his  churchmanship  did  not  blind  him  on  the  one  hand 
to  the  encroachments  which  were  being  made  upon  the  doctiine 
and  ritual  of  the  Church  in  certain  quarters,  nor,  on  the  other,  to 
the  sterling  M'orth  of  those — both  High  and  Low  Chiu'chmen — who 
were  conservative  of  the  sound  teachings  and  Protestant  character 
of  the  Church,  as  the  same  were  expressed  in  her  authorized  stand- 
ards and  settled  from  the  period  of  the  Reformation.  Able  with 
his  pen  in  all  written  discourse,  and  ready  and  cogent  in  all  spoken 
argument,  he  never  hesitated,  though  sometimes  in  seemingly 
harsh  and  severe  way,  to  give  utterance  to  his  strong  and  intense 
convictions.  Like  all  men  of  marked  force  of  mind  and  character, 
he  made  warm  friends  on  the  one  hand,  and  excited  opposition, 
if  not  enmity,  on  the  other.  Hence  he  was  often  misunderstood 
and  sometimes  bitterly  opposed.  His  prejudices  may  have  been 
strong  and  his  judgments  of  men  and  things  not  always  correct : 
but  he  was  withal  a  man  of  warm  and  tender  feelings  and  thor- 
oughly devoted  to  his  friends  in  his  personal  attachments. 

Bishop  PiXKXEY  had  the  penetration  to  discern  the  value  and 
the  courage  to  avail  himself  of  the  counsels  of  such  a  friend  :  and 
Dr.  Lewin  could  himself  see  and  appreciate  the  noble  qualities  of 
mind  and  heart  that  characterized  one  whom  he  so  revered  and 
loved.  Bishop  Pinkney,  therefore,  did  not  hesitate  to  consult 
with  Dr.  Lewin  whenever  he  deemed  it  advisable  to  do  so.  One 
may  be  unconsciously  influenced  by  another — for  such  is  human 
iiatuj."e — but  the  determinations  reached  and  the  acts  done  may 
be  none  the  less  real  and  personal  to  the  indi\'idual  himself. 

Bishop  PiNKNEY  and  Dr.  Lewin  were  men  of  very  opposite 
equalities  and  traits,  yet  drawn  closely  together,  as  is  often  the 
case  in  life,  by  the  mutually-felt  conviction  that  a  strong  common 
tie  was  binding  them  together  for  united  work  in  a  great  cause. 
Diverse  as  were  their  more  noticeable  characteristics  of  manner 
they  were  alike  in  the  singleness  of  their  aims  and  efforts  touching 
the  faith,  the  work,  and  the  welfare  of  the  Church.  Beneath 
unlike  surfaces  there  may  be  found  the  solid  strata  of  homogene- 
ous rock. 


LIFE    OF    liisilo]'    I'l.NKNLV.  217 

The  followino-  letter  is  here  <i^iven  as  an  iiistanc-e  of  the  wjiy  in 
which  Bislioji  PixKNEYwas  accustomed  to  consult  with  Di".  Lcwin. 
He  writes  touchiuo-  some  (questions  ^n-owing-  out  of  tlic  oi-o-juii/ii- 
tion  and  work  of  ouilds,  giving-  his  own  views  of  jiolicy  in  s\icli 
cases,  and  clear  in  the  statement  as  to  what  would  l»e  liis  own 
indej)endent  action  after  such  consultation. 

His  letter  is  dated  11th  of  Octobei'.  ISTO.  shortly  after  his  con- 
secration.    It  is  as  follows  : 

"A  Bislioj)  hail  lutti'i-  not  interfere  with  the  projects  aud  piu-ijoses  of  the 
inenil)ership  of  the  Church,  but  leave  them  to  be  developed  and  worked  out. 
reserviiiij;  to  himself  the  right  to  see  that  nothing  is  dont-  wliich  the  canons 
and  rubrics  of  the  Church  do  not  allow.  Every  consideration  of  sound  polii-v 
and  law  seems  to  me  to  favor  this  course  of  action.  When  you  have  e.xani- 
ined  the  papers  let  me  know  what  you  think  l)est  in  this  particular  case.  I 
think  that  much  trouble  might  ensue  from  any  attempted  interference. 
Unless  some  fixed  principle  of  action  is  adcjpted  and  adhered  to,  the  way 
will  be  opened  to  endless  contusion  and  heart-burnings.  My  plan  would  be 
to  let  personal  activity  work  without  let  or  hindrance,  unless  it  works  oi)])o- 
sition  to  law  and  order,  and  then  apply  the  remedy  in  a  gentle  remonstrance, 
or,  if  need  be,  in  a  more  decided  way.  Let  me  hear  ymir  opinion,  aud  I  will 
then  act  as  my  conscience  directs." 

And  so,  in  all  his  subsequent  consultations  with  Dr.  Lewin 
touching-  doul^tful  matters  of  canon  law  and  the  exercise  of  the 
EpiscojDal  prerogative,  he  sought  the  opinion  of  one  so  thoroughly 
versed  in  the  canons  and  legislation  of  the  Church,  both  general 
and  diocesan,  always  reserving  to  himself  the  power  to  act  as  his 
"  conscience  should  direct."" 

Surely  it  does  not  at  all  derogate  from  a  man"s  independence 
to  seek  counsel  of  others  in  discharge  of  great  trusts  involving 
divers  and  sacred  interests  :  it  is  rather  the  marks  of  a  wise 
ruler  in  the  conscientious  fultilment  of  his  responsibilities. 

Nor  did  the  Assistant  Bisho})  hesitate  to  confer  freely  and 
cordially  on  Church  matters  with  the  leaders  of  the  old  evangel- 
ical party — that  is  with  the  so-called  Low  Churchmen.  By  doing 
so.  however,  he"  was  thought  l)y  some  to  be  departing  from  his 
long-settled  aud  well-established  convictions  touching  doctrinal 
truths.  Church  polity,  and  the  ])rescribed  ritual  of  the  Church. 
Nothing  could  be  farther  from  the  truth.  Bishop  Pixkxey  could 
not  but  see,  in  the  very  ]:)eginning  of  his  Episcopate,  that  the 
growing  and  hurtful  tendencies  of  the  ritualistic  party  were 
calculated,  by  their  contentions  and  encroachments,  to  be  not  only 
disastrous  to  the  peace  of  the  Church,  but  really  subversive  of  ■ 
the  sound  teachings,  principles,  and  worship  that  had  been  settled 
by  the  ecclesiastical  constitutions  in  England  and  America.  He 
was  therefore  thoroitghly  opposed  to  the  novelties  and  unauthor- 
ized usuages,  rites,  and  ceremonies  that  the  ritualists  were  intro- 
ducing into  the  worship  of  the  Church  :  which,  Avhile  professing 
to  be  harmless   in  themselves,  and   comlucive   to    the   solemnity, 


218  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

beauty,  and  impressiveness  of  the  services,  did  yet  symbolize 
doctrines  which  had  been  formally  and  expressly  repudiated  by 
the  Church.  So  far,  therefore,  as  he  identified  himself  with  the 
Low  Churchmen,  it  was  because  he  heartily  sympathized  with  their 
evano-elic  j^rinciples  and  then-  devotion  to  the  Protestant  char- 
acter of  the  Church,  and  he  sought  their  co-operating  influence 
in  harmonious  action  with  the  conservative  poKcy  of  High  Chui-ch- 
men  known  to  be  true  and  steadfast  resijecting  the  doctrines  and 
worship  of  the  Church. 

At  the  time  of  his  consecration,  the  evangelic  clergy,  so  called, 
had  ceased  to  be  in  any  way  organized  as  a  separate  party  in 
the  Church.  Great  changes  had  come  about — they  were  less 
partisan  in  their  views,  and  less  obtrusive  in  their  policy  :  in  fact, 
they  had  become  really,  though  unconsciously,  stricter  adherents 
to  the  standards  of  the  Church.  Although  not  organized  as  a 
party,  they  were  sufficiently  numerous,  and  so  decided  in  then- 
loyalty  to  the  Church,  and  influential  in  their  spheres,  that  the 
Assistant  Bishop  could  not  but  see  and  feel  that,  conjoined  with 
himself  and  the  conservative  High  Churchmen  of  the  diocese,  they 
were  not  only  to  be  an  element  of  strength  in  his  administration, 
but  able  to  fill  the  place  of  wise  and  sympathetic  counsellors. 
Hence  his  close  intimacy  with  them  dui'ing  the  whole  of  his 
Episcopate. 

The  addi'esses  to  the  convention  by  the  Assistant  Bishop  show 
how  tu-eless  he  was  in  his  labors.  Leaving  to  the  senior  Bishop 
those  matters  that  specially  pertained  to  the  head  of  the  diocese. 
Bishop  PixKNEY  did  the  work  in  ^-isitations  for  which  his  chief 
was  phj'sically  incapacitated  :  and  as  it  behooved  not  him  in  his 
position  as  assistant  to  bring  before  the  convention  independent 
counsels  and  measiu-es.  he  very  wisely  and  properly  confined  him- 
self to  the  details  of  his  Episcopal  visitations  in  order  that  the 
diocese  might  see  the  needs  he  was  supplymg  and  the  work  he 
was  doing.  Hence  those  long  details  which  he  gave  in  his  annual 
adch'esses  to  the  convention,  and  which  some  m^tj'  have  thought 
tedious  in  their  relation.  He  did  so  because  there  was  so  little 
else  that  he  could  do  in  his  addresses  beyond  suggestions  from 
time  to  time  concerning  matters  of  Church  need  and  Chiu'ch 
extension,  as  they  were  forced  ujjon  his  attention  during  the 
progress  of  his  visitations.  He  never  failed  to  bring  these  before 
the  convention  and  to  urge  upon  the  members  greater  activity 
and  zeal  in  sustaining  the  mission  work  of  the  diocese. 

It  is  an  interesting  circumstance  that  his  first  orthnation  of  a 
deacon  to  the  i^riestliood  was  held  on  the  18th  of  December,  1870, 
in  the  parish  cLurch  of  which  he  had  been  so  long  rector.  He 
states  in  his  addi'ess  : 

"  This  was  my  first  ordination.     The  deacon  *  ordained  priest  was  my 


*  Rev.  John  B.  Williams. 


LIFE    OF    lilSIlOP    I'INKNKY.  211) 

sucL-fSsnr  ill  St.  ]\Iattlunv's  ])iirisli,  Princi-  G('<)r;,'c's  county,  wln-rc,  for 
twenty  years  and  niort',  I  hail  labored  with  so  much  personal  comfort  ami 
hcart-sunshino.  The  jjlace  was  the  altar  I  had  served  for  fourteen  years,  in 
the  midst  of  a  loving  band  who  had  left  nn-  nothing  to  desire  which  hcarl- 
aft'ection  could  prompt  or  heart-zeal  sui)ply.  while  tlie  brother  in  charge 
was  my  immediate  successor  and  my  old  and  familiar  frieml." 

While  his  heart  cleaved  to  the  dear  associations  of  the  past,  in 
his  parochial  niinistr3%  he  was  fully  alive  to  the  ma«^nitiide  of  the 
new  work  devolved  upon  him  as  Bishop  ;  and  he  prosecuted  it 
with  as  much  freshness  and  vigor  as  thouj^di  there  had  been  no 
old  ties  of  home  and  friends  and  parish  to  draw  away  his  hesu-t 
from  the  interest  and  claims  of  present  duty  in  the  sphere  upon 
which  he  had  entered. 

Thus  in  his  first  convention  address  lie  calls  the  attention  of 
the  body  to  the  need  of  larger  provisions  for  carr^dng-  on  tlie 
work  of  diocesan  missions,  and  for  the  relief  of  the  weaker 
parishes,  and  recommends  the  resuscitation  of  the  order  of 
deacons,  to  be  under  the  control  of  rector  or  rectors  of  ])arishes. 
In  that  first  addi'ess  he  says : 

••  I  have,  dear  brethren,  studiously  restricted  myself,  in  my  rejiort,  to  a 
mere  record  of  facts.  *  *  *  Que  or  two  things  I  would  resj>ectfully  sug- 
gest. They  t(jiich  the  work  in  the  tenderest  point.  There  are  many  tine 
fields  for  missi<juary  effort,  which,  if  exiltivated,  would  yield  a  rich  harvest. 
The  question  arises.  How  can  they  be  best  worked  ?  Deacons  placed  iiuder 
the  control  of  the  rector  or  rectors  of  parishes,  to  act  in  concert  with  them, 
supported  l)y  the  board,  would  succeed  in  establishing  self-supporting 
chiirches  at  a  less  cost  and  far  more  rapidly  than  under  any  other  arrange- 
ment. *  *  *  One  other  siiggestion  I  would  sul)mit  to  your  wiser  judg- 
ment. We  want  au  adequate  fund,  from  which  the  Bishop  may  draw,  for 
two  objects  that  are  of  prime  importance  and  most  pressing  urgency,  viz., 
the  relief  of  parishes  that  are  doing  all  they  can  to  sustain  the  clergy,  and 
yet  are  not  able  to  provide  for  them  a  competent  support :  and  the  extension 
of  necessary  relief  to  young  men  of  education  who  wish  to  enter  on  the 
study  for  the  ministry,  and  yet  are  not  able  to  sustain  themselves."  * 

Bishop  PiNKNEY  confined  himself  to  such  practical  suggestions 
and  recommendations  as  these  in,  his  address  as  the  Assistant 
Bishop.  Afterwards,  when  the  sole  charge  of  the  diocese  with 
its  responsibilities  devolved  upon  him  by  the  death  of  the  senior 
Bishop,  he  was  able,  in  his  official  capacity  as  the  head  of  the 
diocese,  to  lay  before  the  convention  matters  and  measures  which 
he  deemed  of  great  importance  for  the  welfai'e  of  the  Church. 

These  convicti(ms  of  Bishop  Pixkxey  touching  the  missicm  work 
and  the  needs  of  the  weaker  parishes  of  the  diocese  became 
intensified  during  the  course  of  his  Ei)iscopate,  and  led  liini,  out 
of  his  own  moderate  salary  as  Bishop,  to  apportion  the  far  greater 
part  of  it  for  the  relief  of  the  clergy  inadequately  supi)orted  in  the 
rural  parishes.  As  his  quarter's  salary  was  received  cliecks  of 
varied  amounts  were  sent  to  those  whose  needs  he  felt  in  his 


*Con.  Journal,  1871,  p.  iC. 


220  LIFE    or    BISHOP    PINKNEY.     • 

soul  to  be  greater  than  liis  owb,  and  for  whose  sakes  lie  was 
willing-  to  deny  himself  all  but  the  necessaries  of  life.  Moreover, 
in  his  E])iscopal  visitations  he  always  requested  that  the  offerings 
might  be  applied  to  the  diocesan  missions.  Some  of  his  most 
forcible  mission-appeals  were  made  on  such  occasions.  This  mat- 
ter of  pastoral  relief  he  brought  before  the  convention  again 
and  again.  He  even  went  so  far  as  to  propose,  more  than  once, 
that  he  and  the  clergy  of  the  diocese  should  ''  throw  all  our 
salaries  into  one  common  fund,  to  be  disbursed  pro  rata,  as  the 
expense  of  lining  shall  dictate  : ""  adding,  "  I  feel  in  the  fearful 
crisis  of  the  hour  that  I  can  do  no  more  than  express  my  entire 
^Ailliugness  to  share  with  my  poorer  brothers  all  I  receive,  which 
is  all  I  have  of  worldly  goods."  * 

Bishop  Pinkney's  interest  in  missions  was  not  confined  to  such 
work  within  the  diocese.  Early  in  June  of  1871  he  was  requested 
and  appointed,  by  the  Board  of  Missions,  to  go  forth  with  others 
to  advocate  the  cause  of  the  general  missions  of  the  Church  in  the 
gi'eat  Northwest.  He  gives,  in  his  convention  addi'ess,  the  fol- 
lowing brief  record  of  that  visit : 

"  On  the  Gth  of  June  I  started  out  on  a  missionary  tour  with  the  two 
secretaries  of  the  Board,  tlie  Kev.  Dr.  Harwood,  of  Connecticut,  and  the 
.  Bev.  Mr.  Dudley,  of  Maryland,  t(j  advocate  the  cause  in  portions  of  Minne- 
sota. At  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis,  and  Faribault  we  met  with  the  most  cordial 
welcome,  and  held  very  enthusiastic  meetings.  I  preached  the  opening 
sermon  by  request.  It  is  scarcely  possible  to  form  an  adequate  conception 
of  the  magnitude  of  the  field  which  is  opened  to  the  Church  in  the  great 
Northwest ;  and  it  is  not  easy  to  speak  of  the  work  going  on  in  this  young 
diocese  without  seeming  exaggeration.  The  result  of  my  official  and  per- 
sonal intercourse  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Twing  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hare,  to  whom 
is  committed  the  missimi  work  at  home  and  abroad,  satisfies  me  that  no  two 
men  could  be  found,  in  all  our  borders,  more  admirably  fitted  for  the  post, 
in  all  that  gives  power  to  advocacy,  and  wisdom  and  energy  to  action,  than 
those  two  brethren  beloved.  It  was  an  oasis  in  the  midst  of  the  wilder- 
ness of  cares  that  marks  the  Episcopate  on  which  it  is  most  pleasing  to 
gaze.  I  do  not  propose  to  enlarge  on  the  magnificent  work  going  on  in  that 
glorious  portion  of  the  country  :  but  I  cannot  withhold  my  tribute  of  praise 
to  the  leaders  in  that  distant  field  of  labor,  and  my  acknowledgment  of  the 
refined  hospitality  we  received,  and  the  warm  Christian  courtesy  which 
made  us  feel  at  home  the  very  moment  we  touched  the  soil  on  which  my 
brother  of  Minnesota  had  so  indelibly  impressed  his  mind  and  heart."  + 

Of  this  missionary  tour,  which  he  seems  to  have  enjoyed 
considerably,  some  brief  extracts  from  letters  to  his  wife  may  be 
given. 

From  Milwaukee,  on  the  9th  of  June,  he  writes : 

"  We  reached  here  last  night  about  half-past  eight.  We  rode  over  Chi- 
cago. The  lake  is  trauscendeutly  beautiful.  It  is  glorious.  No  one  word, 
no  dozen  words  in  our  language,  can  tell  half  its  charms.     In  color,  vastness, 


*  Con.  Journal,  1882,  p.  1(2. 
t  Con.  Journal,  1872,  page  69. 


LIFE    OF    lilSHOl'    I'INKNHV.  1>2I 

iiii)tii>ii,  it  is  ii  ycni  tif  the  st'si.  Not  so  <,M-iiii(l  asold  occiiii,  tmt  >-iill  MiHicinitly 
near  it  to  hv  tonible.  uiid  yet  so  lovely  that  one  looks  and  looks,  entraneei'l 
l)y  its  beauty.  To-day  it  was  very  (jn.et.  No  one  seems  in  tiiese  days  t<» 
turn  as  I  do  to  the  works  of  the  <^ran(l  Arehitect.  l^hx'ks  of  hiiildin^'s  jilease 
me:  the  w'iiter-works  astonish  me:  the  private  dwellini^s,  as  they  loom  on 
the  view  in  all  variety  of  taste  and  eleganee.  deli^rht  me  :  hut  one  sij^dit  of 
this  Lake  Michi-ian  is  worth  a  trip  over  the  ocean.  *  ♦  *  We  saw  Kisliop 
Armitai.(e  in  Milwaukee..  We  called  on  Bishop  Whitehouse,  of  Illinois,  hut 
he  was  out.  We  start  at  eleven  for  St.  Paul,  wliicli  we  hojx:"  to  reaeii  about 
seveu  .\.  M.  to-morrow." 

Again,  Avritiug-  from  Faribault,  he  sends  to  bis  wife  the  follow- 
ing letter : 

''June  Wt/i,  1H7I. 

"  My  De.\rest  Bettie  :  I  attended  service  yesterday  at  the  Cathedral  of 
Our  Merciful  Saviour,  Faribault :  and  such  a  service  I  never  heard,  so  full 
of  Lcrandeur  and  solemn  awe.  The  church  itself  is  faultless:  the  music  old 
and  churchly  ;  the  voices  well  trained — forty-odd  girls  and  a  number  of  lioys, 
with  some  twenty  nearly  grown.  The  house  was  crowded.  I  preachecl — 
well  I  really  I  am  not  suited  to  this  sort  of  work — I  did  as  well  as  I  could 
under  the  circumstances.  But  I  do  not  f(>cl  at  honu'  in  a  crowd.  I  seldom 
do  as  well. 

"At  night  there  w'ere  missionary  addresses.  Diidlcy  did  remarkably.  Dr. 
Harwood  was  very  effective. 

"  To-day  we  start  for  Nashotah,  and  reach  there  to-morrow,  travelling  all 
night.  Thence  we  go  to  Milwaukee,  which  we  hope  to  reach  TiUi'sday  night. 
Wednesday  we  start  for  home.  It  seems  to  me  I  have  lost  all  my  energy.  I 
move  mechanically.  Well !  I  must  get  out  of  it  if  I  can.  Love  to  all — Ogle. 
A.,  and  Cousiu  A.  Tell  Wye*  I  think  of  him  often.  I  hope  you  are  all 
well.  I  have  had  to  travel  so  far  only  by  faith — the  only  one  of  the  company 
that  has  not  had  a  line  from  home. 

"  Yours  affectionately,        ' 

"  WILLIAM." 

During  his  sojourn  in  Faribault  Bislioj:)  Pinkney  had  oppor- 
tunity of  visiting  St.  Mary's  Hall,  the  school  for  girls  that  Bishop 
Whipple  had  founded,  and  which  was  in  full  and  successful 
operation.  So  greatly  impressed  and  pleased  was  he  with  all 
that  he  saw  in  the  admirable  management  of  the  school  and 
in  the  deportment,  order,  and  studies  of  the  pupils,  that  im- 
mediately ujDon  his  return  to  Washington  he  ordered  to  be 
prepared  "  a  gold  medal,"  to  be  awarded  to  "  the  best  scholar  in 
the  English  language  ;"  and  he  continued  to  send  such  medal 
annually  up  to  the  close  of  his  life.  It  was  a  costly  medal,  going 
far  beyond  any  thoughts  of  Bishop  Whipple  as  to  what  it  would 
be.  It  consisted  of  "  a  gold  cross  of  excjuisite  workmanshi])."" 
Bishop  PiNKNEY  designed  it  himself  and  personally  sujierintended 
its  execution  ;  and  as  each  scholastic  year  drew  near  the  close  he 


*  "Wye  "  was  his  favorite  household  dog.     In  almost  every  letter  he  sends 
some  message,  such  as  "  pat  Wye  for  me,"  "  I  wish  I  could  see  the  old  dog." 


222  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   PINKNEY. 

sent  it  on  to  tlie  principal  of  St.  Mary's  Hall,  with  a  letter  full  of 
beautiful  tbouglits  and  covmsels.* 

Some  correspondence  in  relation  to  this  medal  to  St.  Mary's, 
though  taking  place  at  a  later  day,  may  here  be  given. 

In  this  connection  two  letters  are  here  given — the  one  from 
Bishop  Whipple,  of  Minnesota,  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  the 
letter  which  Bishop  Pixkxey  had  written  to  advise  him  of  the 
transmission  of  the  medal,  and  in  which  was  enclosed  a  copy  of 
the  verses  on  "  The  Old  Clock :  "  the  other  one  from  Bishop 
PixKXEY  in  reply  to  the  letter  of  Miss  Darlington,  the  principal  of 
St.  Mary's  Hall^  announcing  the  award  of  "  the  medal  "  for  the 
year.  The  letter  expresses  the  very  deep  interest  which  Bishop 
PiNKNEY  felt  in  the  work  and  success  of  the  institution  under  her 
charge,  as  principal: 

"  Bidiojj  Whipple  to  Bishop  Pinkney. 

"  FAEiBArLT.  June  10,  1880. 

"  Dear  Brother  :  Yours  came  to-day,  and  I  thauk  you  from  my  heart  for 
the  unfailing  love  which  always  remembers  dear  St.  Mary's.  Y'ou  will  never 
know  what  good  you  have  done  and  what  a  love  for  literature  you  have 
kindled.     I  will  send  for  the  medal. 

"  Many  thanks  for  the  jjrivilege  of  reading  "The  Old  Clock.'  I  read  it 
aloud  to-day,  after  dinnei-,  to  my  guests.  If  we  had  had  a  king  among  us 
you  would  have  been  made  a  poet  laureate.  It  could  only  have  come  out 
of  a  heart  which  had  been  attuned  to  the  music  of  love.     GOD  bless  you. 

"  Y'ours  faithfullv, 

"  Rt.  Rev.  W.  Pinkney.  D.  D.  "  H.  B.  WHIPPLE." 

"Baltimore,  Md..  June,  1880. 

"  I  am  glad  to  know  that  my  friend.  Miss  Darlington,  is  satisfied  with  my 
efforts  to  please  the  pupils  of  St.  Mary's  Hall.  It  has  my  confidence  because 
it  is  the  nursery  of  the  Church  that  Bishop  Whipple  planted,  and  you  know 
I  am  one  of  those  who  think  that  what  he  touches  turns  to  g(jld  :  not  the 
gold  that  we  dig  out  of  the  mines  and  then  fashion  in  the  mint,  but  the  gold 
of  the  faith  refined,  golden  thoughts,  golden  feelings,  and  golden  deeds.  So 
the  winner  of  my  medal  was  an  orphan  girl  I  GOD  blesses  the  orphan. 
Her  very  helplessness  touches  the  Giver  of  all  blessings.  I  hope  she  will 
not  forget  that  her  education  is  but  just  begun.  If  she  would  have  the  jewel 
of  the  mind  and  heart  wrought  into  the  same  exquisite  form  of  beauty  that 
the  golden  cross  received,  she  must  work  at  it,  and  every  day  lay  it  under 
her  Father's  hand,  who  alone  can  fashion  it  in  beauty. 

"  Tell  her  for  me,  that  she  must  live  to  realize  your  hopes  and  her  dear 
Bishop's,  and  send  back  to  you  at  the  dear  old  hall,  from  time  to  time, 
tidings  that  all  is  well.  She  remembers  who  broke  the  alabaster  box  over 
the  body  of  her  Lord,  and  as  she  meets  one  and  another  of  His  suffering 
members  out  on  the  Western  prairie — it  may  be  in  the  form  of  some  poor 
Indian  daughter  whose  paternal  wigwam  we  have  cruelly  invaded,  whom  we, 
in  our  grinding  avarice,  have  consigned  to  endless  wanderings  from  river  to 


*  Medals  of  a  like  chai-acter  were  annually  sent  by  Bishop  Pinkney  to  a 
numl>er  of  educational  institutions  in  Maryland — to  St.  .John's  College. 
Annapolis  :  to  St.  James,  near  Hagerstown  :  io  the  Hannah  More  Academy  ; 
to  the  Pinknev  Institute,  and  to  other  schools. 


LIFE    OF   lilSHOr    riNKNEY.  223 

river,  and  mountain  gorge  to  mountain  gorge— she  will  not  forgft   that  the 
same  loving  deed  is  her  holy  privilege  as  well. 

"St.  Mary's  hall!  May  (iOl)  l)less  it  I  Beautiful  for  situation  ;  may  He 
make  it  a  blessing  to  this  whole  land.  Loyal  to  the  ercjss  may  it  ever  prove. 
Loyal  to  this  Church  of  ours,  this  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  foremost 
among  whose  Bishops  is  my  brother  of  Minnesota. 

"  But  you  may  say  I  am  presuming  on  my  medal.  It  gives  me  no  right  to 
tax  the  hours  of  your  recreation  !  That  is  cpiite  true,  but  on  you  must  rest 
the  responsibility,  for  if  you  had  not  first  spoken  I  should  have  kept  silence. 
•  Miixima  reverentia  debetur  puelhc'  So  .luvenal  writes.  It  is  a  grand 
thought  and  ought  to  be  engraven  on  the  walls  of  yoi;r  noble  asylum. 

"  Atfectionatelv, 

"  Miss  S.  P.  Darlington.  '  W.  P." 

A  copy  of  this  letter  of  Bisliop  Pinkxey's  to  Miss  Darliiifjton 
Avas  enclosed  in  a  letter  which  Bishop  Whipple  addressed  to  Mr. 
Corcoran  in  1886,  in  which  the  Bishop  expressed  his  anxious 
desu-e  that  some  permanent  provision  should  l)e  made  for  the 
continuance  of  the  medal  premium  for  St.  Mary's  Hall.  The 
appeal  of  the  Bishop  was  promptly  and  generously  responded  to 
by  Mr.  Corcoran: 

"Maitland,  March  Ot/t,  ISHC. 
'•My  Dear  Benefactor  and  Friend:  Will  you  read  the  beautiful  letter 
of  your  dear  friend.  Bishop  Pinkney,  in  Paradise  ?  It  shows  how  dear  St. 
Mary's  Hall  was  to  him.  He  told  me  he  would  found  this  medal.  His  name 
has  been  so  long  connected  with  the  school  I  hate  to  give  it  up.  \Vill  it  be 
possible  for  you  to  give  St.  Mary's  .^200  or  -taOO,  the  interest  of  which  will 
provide  a  Pinkney  Sledal  forever  ?  If  you  can,  I  shall  be  deeply  grateful. 
"  Praying  GOD  to  bless  you. 

"  Your  friend, 

"  H.  B.  WHIPPLE. 

''Bisha])  of  Minnesota. 
''  Hon.  W.  W.  Corcoran." 

On  the  20th  of  June  Bishoj)  Pinkney  and  his  fellow-mission 
travellers  were  at  Nashotah,  where  they  sojourned  for  ii  short 
time,  sharing  the  hospitality  of  the  seminary  and  enjoying  the 
wondrous  lieauty  of  its  surroundings.  Returning  to  AVashington 
on  the  25th  of  June,  Bishop  Pinkney  entered  at  once,  without  a 
single  day's  delay,  upon  his  Episcopal  visitations  of  the  diocese, 
which  he  continued  without  intermission  to  the  close  of  the  con- 
vention year. 

In  the  course  of  his  visitations  he  penned  from  time  to  time 
brief  letters  to  his  wife,  written  as  he  had  opportunity.  One  or 
two  of  such  letters  during  this  year  and  the  next  (1872)  may  be 
given : 

"April -i,  1H72. 

"  My  Dear  Bettie  :  I  am  now  with  Dr.  Hodges  (West  Kiver)  :  hold  ser- 
vice to-day  and  to-morrow.  Then  I  go  CD.  Y.).  to  be  two  days  with  ilr. 
Gambrall. 

"  I  hope  your  arm  is  improving.  I  am  ([uite  well.  The  days  are  passing, 
and  I  hope  soon  to  be  at  the  end — honu'ward  bound.     It  is  a  very  trying 


224  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

position — this  beiug  whirled  about  for  so  many  days  ;  but  I  hope  I  shall 
have  a  little  leisure  soon.  Let  Niuiau  keep  a  good  look-out.  I  am  anxious 
to  hear  how  his  case  progresses.  I  will  write  again  at  the  next  point.  I  do 
not  think  the  convocation  will  meet.  No  one  has  arrived  yet.  I  do  not  care 
about  it  :  for  the  quiet  I  enjoy  with  Dr.  Hodges  is  very  pleasant.  I  preached 
yesterday  the  same  sermon  I  preached  Si;nday  night.  But  I  do  not  preach 
anywhere  as  I  do  at  the  Ascension.  There  all  hearts  are  in  harmony  with 
mine.  But  I  hope  I  get  along  tolerably.  Love  to  O..  to  A.,  and  to  Coiasin 
A.  This  pen  is  dreadful.  I  cannot  write  with  it.  Take  care  of  yourself. 
Look  out  for  the  closing  of  the  house  and  the  fires.  Pat  Wye  for  me — the 
dear  old  dog.  I  hope  the  weather  will  favor  me.  It  is  cooler  to-day. 
"'  Yours  affectionatelv, 

"WILLIAM." 

A  similar  letter,  written  the  next  year,  will  suffice  to  show  how 
actively,  and  yet  quietly,  he  was  engaged  in  his  Episcopal  duties  : 

"May  1,  1873. 

•■  My  Dearest  Bettie  :  I  am  getting  on  towards  the  close.  The  weather 
has  not  been  favorable.  Everybody  is  very  kind  and  attentive.  It  is  cloud- 
ing over  again  to-day.  I  am  tolerably  well — still  a  little  sore  throat  and  a 
little  hoarseness.  But  still  everybody  congratulates  me  on  looking  so  well. 
One  old  gentleman  thinks  I  am  not  looking  so  strong  as  I  did.  But  he  is 
the  exception.  Take  good  care  of  yoiirself.  Tell  Ogle  to  be  careful  about 
the  change  of  the  weather  and  not  to  go  out  in  thin  shoes. 

"  I  had  two  services  last  Sunday,  and  a  ride  of  four  miles ;  two  on  Mon- 
day, and  a  ride  of  ten  miles  in  the  rain  :  one  Tuesday,  and  a  ride  of  twelve 
miles :  one  on  Wednesday,  and  a  ride  of  twelve  miles ;  one  to-day,  and  a. 
ride  of  twelve  miles  :  and  on  Friday  one  service,  and  a  ride  of  eighteen  miles ; 
and  on  Saturday  a  ride  of  eighteen  miles  after  I  cross  the  river.  So  it  goes. 
Love  to  Ogle,  A.,  and  Coiisiu  \.  Pat  old  Wye.  Give  my  love  to  Svisan. 
"  Yours  affectitmatelv, 

"  WILLIAM." 

For  nearly  thirteen  years,  with  only  brief  and  occasional  inter- 
vals of  rest  and  recreation,  Bishop  Pinkney  contuiued  these  ardu- 
ous labors ;  and  when  the  summons  came  to  him  to  pass  from 
earthly  toil  to  the  rest  of  Paradise  it  found  him  not  in  the  quiet 
retreat  of  his  home,  but  while  actively  engaged  in  loving  minis- 
tries in  a  distant  parish. 

Although  the  Episcopal  ministrations  of  the  Assistant  Bishop 
throughout  the  diocese  were  most  acceptable  and  highly  prized, 
there  were  some  few  of  the  clergy  m  Baltimore  city — disaffected, 
perhaps — who,  owing  to  Bishop  Whittingham's  inability  to  serve 
them,  desired  to  have  some  neighboring  Bishop  for  administra- 
tive service  in  their  churches  :  and  to  this  end,  while  the  Assistant 
Bishop  was  engaged,  or  supi)osed  to  be  engaged,  in  visitations 
elsewhere  in  the  diocese,  application  was  made  to  Bishop  Whit- 
tiugham  for  permission  or  authorization  to  request  a  neighboring 
Bishop  to  render  such  Episcopal  service.  This  happened  in  two 
instances — and  in  both  under  some  misajjprehension,  on  the  part 
of  the  officiating  Bishop,  of  the  circumstances — which  were  after- 
wards explained  by  corresiDondence — and  so  exj^lained  that  there 
could  be  no  recuiTence  of  such  cases. 


LIFE    OF    lUSHul'    I'lNKNEV.  '2'2~) 

While  acting-  us  tlu'  AKsistuiit  Bislio]).  liis  cliicf  work  was  tliat. 
of  visitations,  preachings,  and  siu-li  adniinistiations  as,  in  snnn* 
specitic  instances,  he  was  requested  l)y  the  senioi-  Bishoj)  to  ren- 
der. Thus  he  was  assi>jfned  the  settk'inent  of  several  cases  of 
trouble  between  rectors  and  vestries  and  parishes  ;  which,  by  his 
equal  gentleness  and  firmness,  he  succeeded  in  adjusting.  One 
parish  wanted  to  get  rid  of  its  rector  who  persisted  in  staying  ; 
another  wished  to  have  the  rector  called  to  account  for  some 
matters  of  which  he  was  accused.  These  ministerial  and  ])aroch- 
ial  troubles,  as  they  come  before  our  Bishops  for  settlement,  are 
sometimes  found  to  be  very  difficult  in  adjustment  for  the  })eace 
and  welfare  of  the  parishes  concerned.  Various  suggestions  and 
plans  hiive  been  otiered  to  prevent  their  occurrence.  They 
would  exist  under  any  system  of  organization  that  might  be 
devised.  Tiie}'  are  less  fre(pieut  and  serious,  it  is  l)elieved,  under 
the  present  organization  than  they  would  be  under.any  changes 
that  could  be  made  in  the  ecclesiastical  and  civil  relations  of 
vestries  and  ccmgregations  to  their  rectors.  Even  if  all  missicm 
l)Ower  and  the  tenure  of  the  pastoral  relation  were  lodged  aljso- 
lutely  in  the  hands  of  the  Bishop,  or  provisionally  in  a  supervisory 
board,  or  in  the  convention  of  the  diocese,  it  would  not  prevent 
trovibles  of  the  sort  which  have  their  origin  in  the  very  nature 
of  things  ;  and,  except  under  an  autocracy  like  that  of  Rome,  our 
peoj^le  would  never  consent  to  be  deprived  of  their  rights  in  the 
choice  of  their  rector ;  nor  could  they  be  compelled  to  sup})ort 
one  w'honi  they  were  unwilling  to  receive,  and  who  was  forced 
upon  them  by  an  extraneous  power,  althovigh  that  power  were  a 
recognized  ecclesiastical  authority. 


226  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 


CHAPTER  XXIY. 

His  Visitations — General  Convextion.     1871-'72. 

These  labors,  with  only  brief  and  occasional  intervals  of  rest^ 
bishop  PiXKXEY  continued  throughout  the  whole  of  his  Ei^isco- 
pate.  After  long  and  weary  travel  and  prolonged  converse  with 
friends,  he  was  known  to  retii"e  to  his  room  not  for  rest  in 
sleep,  but  to  sit  for  hours  after  midnight  either  pouring  out  his 
soul  in  some  sweet  poetic  effusion,  or  in  the  more  elaborate  work 
of  writing  a  carefully  thought-out  sermon.  His  recuperative 
jjowers  were  great.  A  few  hours  rest  seemed  to  restore  him  to 
wonted  -vigor.  In  the  morning  he  would  be  apparently  as  fresh 
in  mind  and  body  as  though  all  the  silent  hours  of  the  night  had 
been  passed  in  sweet  rest  and  slumber.  And  yet  it  was  seen 
that  such  strain  upon  the  mind,  the  nervous  system,  and  on  the 
jDhysical  powers  could  not  but  tell  in  time  for  hurt  ujjon  his 
whole  organism. 

He  could  hardly  be  persuaded  to  take  any  respite  from  work 
€ven  in  the  midsummer's  heat.  His  generous  and  noble  friend, 
Mr.  W.  W.  Corcoran,  requh-ed  him,  so  to  sj^eak,  to  spend  a  few 
weeks  of  summer  with  him  as  his  guest  at  the  White  Sulphur 
Sirring  s. 

He  was  constrained  by  this  friend  to  accept  a  hospitahty  that 
would  give  him  needed  bodily  rest  and  refreshment,  and  at  the 
same  time  afford  the  enjoyments  of  delighful  converse  and  asso- 
ciation with  the  most  refined  and  cultured  persons.  North  and 
South,  in  social  and  public  life.  The  White  Sulphur  was  the 
famous  summer  resort  of  many  such  persons.  Bishop  Pinkney 
continued  to  go  there  as  Mr.  Corcoran's  guest  for  a  few  weeks 
in  summer,  with  some  exceptional  years,  during  his  Episcopate. 

No  man  could  more  thoroughly  and  exquisitely  enjoy  the 
recreation  than  the  Bishop.  It  Avas  there  that  he  formed  delight- 
ful associations  and  enduring  friendships.  He  became  a  great 
favorite  with  all.  His  ardent  feelings,  genial  manners,  warm  and 
broad  sympathies,  and  quick  sensitiveness  to  everything  beau- 
tiful in  nature  and  lovely  in  human  character,  enabled  him  to 
enter  with  zest  into  all  matters  that  touched  in  any  way  the 
interests  and  happines-s  of  others.  By  a  singular  combination  of 
attracting  (jualities  he  unconsciously  drew  to  himself  both  the 
plainest  and  the  poorest  in  the  walks  of  life,  and  those  who  by  edu- 
cation, Avealth,  and  social  position  moved  in  the  highest  circles  ; 
hence  it  was  that  these  brief  annual  visits  to  the  White  Sulphur 


LIFE    OF    l-.ISIIol'    I'INKNKV.  'I'll 

were  so  refresliiu"^-  to  liiiii  ;  Imt  wliilc  tlicre  lie  was  iu>t  idle.  He 
was  sure  to  return  with  (juite  a  ])a<k!i^'e  of  fn-sli  serinous  written, 
as  he  himself  put  it.  "  while  takiiiL;-  my  rest." 

To  his  wife  he  writes  : 

■  WHni:  SiLrut'ij,  Aiio.  27,  "12. 

"  My  Deaekst  Bettie  :  I  aro.se,  took  two  ^'liisst'.s  of  water,  ate  l>reakfiist. 
jjlayed  croquet  with  Mrs.  G.  aud  Mr.  B.  and  eaine  otl'  sc^narc,  eall«'«l  witli 
Mrs.  G.  on  General  Anderson,  who  i.s  a  most  charniin^,'  ^fntlenian.  His  wife 
and  dan!.^hter  are  very  agreeable.  I  met  with  Commodore  Pegram,  who  is  a 
splendid  sj)ecimeu()f  a  man.  He  sent  his  h)ve  to  Ninian.  I  had  a  talk  witli 
General  Beauregard.  He  said  some  very  pleasant  things  about  my  sermons. 
So  have  many  others.  It  is  only  sur))rising  tome.  I  wroti'  thftwo  I  ])rfai-hi'd 
herein  the  heat  of  the  old  study  :  and  they  are  only  tolerable.  B»it  in  n-aiily 
everything  surprises  mt!.  I  know  that  I  have  come  near  the  point  when  I 
might  have  done  great  things,  perhaps.  But  it  was  only  near,  and  that  is 
fatal  to  all  true  greatness.     I  know  my  weaknesses  ;  they  are  many. 

"  Dr.  Alexander,  a  Presbyterian  minister,  asked  me  tlie  other  day  if  I  wiih 
related  to  Uncle  William.  He  said,  •  I  thought  it  must  be  so.'  He  was  one 
of  my  most  attentive  auditors.  I  bowed  to  Eva  at  the  stati<m,  but  thcjiight 
she  (lid  not  recognize  me.  I  was  on  the  platf(jrm,  and  bowed  very  low,  much 
on  the  ritualist  order. 

"  I  hope  Ogle  continues  to  improve.  Love  to  him,  to  A.,  and  Cousin  A: 
I  must  close,  as  I  wish  this  to  go  off  in  the  mail.  I  am  not  at  the  cottag<^ 
with  Mr.  Corcoran — Mr.  S.  and  myself. 

'•  Yoiirs  atfectionatelv, 

•  WILLIAM. 

After  his  departure  from  the  White  Sulplutr  cordial  and  loving' 
letters  followed  him,  full  of  concern  foi'  his  health  and  of  <>-ratefid 
feelings  for  the  2:)leasure  he  had  aflforded  them  during  liis  visit. 
Hence,  these  brief  annual  respites  from  laborious  duty  were  very 
refreshing-  to  him  in  body  and  mind.  He  would  return  to  engage 
in  work  with  renewed  acti\ity. 

Before  leaving,  Bishop  Pixkney  was  mindful  to  express  in  a 
letter  to  Mr.  Corcoran  his  grateful  appreciation  of  his  kindness  : 

'^September  3,  1H72. 

"My  Deab  Mr.  Corcoran:  I  cannot  leave  the  White  Sulphur  without 
thanking  you  for  the  kind  hospitality  you  have  extended  to  me.  and  the 
many  agreeable  hours  I  have  spent.  Your  friendship  I  regard  as  one  of  the 
highest  favors  l)estowed  on  me,  and  only  wish  I  could  feel  more  worthy  of 
it.  I  hope  you  may  not  hasten  your  return  to  Washington.  Thi'  moiuitaiu 
air,  in  the  next  twd  weeks,  will  be  of  immense  value  to  yim  and  your  little 
ones.  I  trust  you  may  tind  the  balance  of  the  year  a  sweet,  smiling  valley, 
fi-agrant  with  flowers,  and  that  you  may  continue  to  improve  in  health.  It 
is  a  great  blessing,  where  GOD  "is  pleased  to  all'.-t  it  to  us,  and  greatly  to  be 
prized.  I  shall  miss  the  society  of  yourself.  Mr.  Smith,  the  Doctor,  ami  the 
boys.     They  are  charming. 

"  Wishing  you  every  Idessing  you  can  possibly  crave,  and  trusting  that 
you,  who  areshedding  all  the  whih'  so  many  dew-drops  on  thepan-heil  patli- 
way  of  others,  may  be  permitted  to  drink  in  the  comforts  you  disp«n-i<',  T  atii. 
with  sincere  thanks, 

'*  Yours  affectionately, 

•WM.   PINKNKV 

"'  W.  W.  Corcoran,  Esq.'" 


228  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

These  references  to  the  cu'cumstances  under  which  Bishop 
PiNKXEY  entered  upon  his  deHcate  and  important  work  as  the 
Assistant  Bishop  of  the  diocese  are  made  in  order  that  his  posi- 
tion respecting  the  diocese  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  senior  Bishop 
on  the  other,  may  be  clearly  seen.  He  was  not  the  man  to  desu-e 
or  seek  high  official  position  in  the  Church  :  hut  when  the  sacred 
trusts  and  obligations  of  the  Episcopate  were  laid  upon  him,  by 
an  authority  which  in  conscience  he  felt  bound  to  recognize  as  of 
GOD,  he  hesitated  not  ;  nor  did  he  shrink  from  any  sacrifices  or 
duties  in  meeting  the  responsibilities  of  the  office.  His  strong 
con^•ictions  as  to  what  was  due  alike  to  the  Bishop  and  the 
Church  in  the  diocese  led  him  to  give  his  whole  soul  and  his  best 
energies  to  the  work  that  lay  before  him,  to  be  done  with  no  self- 
ish aims  on  his  OAvn  part,  and  with  remarkable  freedom  from  all 
partisan  prejudices  or  animosities.  He  according  entered  upon 
the  active  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the  Episcopate  immediately 
after  his  consecration. 

In  the  Convention  which  was  held  in  Ma}',  1871,  the  Assistant 
Bishop  made  his  fii-st  address,  giving  a  very  full  and  minute 
account  of  his  Episcoi)al  visitations  and  services  for  the  eight 
months  that  intervened  between  his  consecration  and  the  meeting 
of  the  convention.  He  detailed,  in  diary  form,  specifically,  the 
duties  and  the  travels  of  each  day  during  the  jieriod,  and  sums 
up  his  record  in  the  following  words  : 

"  Since  my  consecration  I  have  preached  one  hundred  and  thii-ty-two  ser- 
mons, delivered  one  hundred  and  fifteen  addresses,  celebrated  Holy  Commun- 
ion sixty-seven  times,  baptized  si.\  children,  attended  one  funeral,  and 
confirmed  fifteen  hundred  and  nineteen  persons." 

This  is  the  record  of  the  Episcopal  work  for  eight  months^  of 
which  one-half  were  vjinter  months,  the  most  unfavorable  in  the 
whole  year  for  Episcopal  visitations,  and  attended  in  the  rural 
parishes  with  great  personal  exposures  and  privations. 

There  was  most  pressing  need  for  Episcopal  ministrations 
throughout  the  diocese.  The  clerg}'  and  the  people  in  the  rural 
parishes  had  been  longing  for  years  to  have  once  more  their  own 
Bishop  come  among  them.  They  were  ready  and  eager  to  wel- 
come him  to  their  hearts,  their  homes,  and  their  churches.  Every- 
where he  found  the  church  buildings  with  over-crowded  congrega- 
tions. fSo  great  in  some  instances  was  the  number  of  the  people 
assembled,  that  the  services  were  held  in  the  open  air  in  a  grove 
adjoining  the  church.  He  did  not  confine  his  visitations  to  the 
parish  churches.  He  went  to  the  mission  stations  and  the  little 
chajDels,  and  where  there  were  no  vestry  rooms  he  would  put  on 
his  robes  under  the  shade  of  a  tree,  or  as  it  might  be  with  a 
bleak  Avind  blowing  around  him,  and  he  would  go  in  full  of  the 
glr)w  of  a  holy  fervor,  and  2)reach  with  even  more  than  his  wonted 
zeal. 


LIFE    OF    lilSllol'    I'INKNKV.  229 

The  Rev.  R.  Tt'iupleman  Brown,  whoon  (^iiiii(juii^f«'siiim  Siin.ljiy, 
1888,  commomorated  the  FMh  uiiiiiversmy  t)f  liis  onliiuitiun  to  the 
sacred  miuistry,  ^'ives  tlie  foHowinHf  acccHiiit  of  one  siu-h  visitation 
by  Bishop  Pixkxey  to  a  mission  station,  nnuh-  soni«'  years  hiter, 
but  it  may  be  here  introduced  : 

"I  gladly  comply  with  your  rt'tiuest  to  atteiiq)!  ii  liricf  nariativt-  of  an 
interesting  visit  made  by  our  late  beloved  Bishoi)  Pinknky  to  a  mission 
station  under  my  charge,  while  rector  of  Christ  Church.  Uockvilh'.  The 
incident  occurred.  I  think,  in  July.  1880.  The  Bishop  had  ntliciated  in  the 
inoniing,  Sunday,  in  Christ  Church,  Kockville.  In  the  afternoon  \vc  rode  out 
to  Quince  Orchard  sclnxjl-house.  aljout  six  miles  west,  on  the  Darnestowu 
and  Poolesville  county  road.  I  had  been  holding  mission  services  at  that 
point  for  several  years,  on  every  other  Sunday  afterncjou,  for  the  benefit  of 
a  few  Church  families  who  could  not  be  reached  in  any  other  way.  An 
interesting  Sunday-school  and  Bible  class  had  been  conducted  there  for 
some  time  by  Mr.  and  ilrs.  lloltert  Poole,  of  the  neighborhood,  with  much 
benetit.  the  fruits  of  which  will  be  reaped  hereafter.  Theannouncenn-nt  of  a 
visit  from  Bishop  Pinkney  brought  (mt  a  large  congregation  ujjon  so  unusual 
an  occasion.  One  could  see  at  once  that  the  interest  was  excited,  not  nierelv 
by  curiosity  to  see  a  ]5isliop,  but  to  see  and  hear  a  man  whose  reputation  and 
name  always  thrilled  every  genuine  Maryland  heart.  As  we  approached  the 
school-house  and  saw  the  immense  thri^ng.  the  surrounding  wood  tilled  with 
vehicles  of  every  description,  almost  blocking  access  to  the  house.  I  said  to 
the  Bishop.  '  the  multitude  will  be  too  great  to  be  fed  within  the  house.' 
With  his  characteristic  promptness,  he  reijlied,  '  We  must  have  tlie  services 
in  the  woods.' 

"  As  we  drew  near  I  discovered,  with  much  satisfaction,  that  tin-  difficulty 
had  been  anticipated  by  moving  the  benches  and  providing  seats  under  the 
trees.  My  heart  was  greatly  cheered  to  think  that  the  Episcopal  Church  could, 
-on  proper  occasions,  enlarge  the  borders  of  her  tents  and  preach  Christ,  and 
HUm  ci'ucified,  to  the  thronging  multitude.  Unfortunately,  as  we  were 
entering  upon  the  service  a  thunder-cloud  came  up  in  so  threatening  a  style 
Ihat  we  were  driven  reluctantly  into  the  school-house.  It  is  needless  to  say 
that  the  Bishop  met  the  occasion,  and  although  many  more  were  standing 
outside  than  covald  be  possibly  seated  within,  their  attention  and  reverent 
manner  to  the  close  of  the  solemn  services  showed  that  the  word  ot  GOD 
wii-s  not  bound.  We  had  adult  baptism,  conlirmiition.  and  holy  comniuniou. 
Many  hearts  were  cheered  l)y  the  thought  that  GOD  does  not  always  contine 
His  presence  to  temples  made  with  hands." 

This  was  not  the  only  occasion  on  which  the  Bishop  hehl  ser- 
vice, confirmed,  and  preached  "  under  the  trees."  He  records 
later  on  a  simihir  mstance,  but  hai)})ily  not  interriii)ted  by  the 
sudden  coming-  on  of  a  rain-storm,  as  related  above.  Of  this  ser- 
\ice  the  Bisho])  thus  wrote  : 

"A  recess  chancel  is  l)eing  erected.  I  held  the  services  under  the  trees. 
It  was  novel  and  impressive.  We  had  a  graceful  arch  of  leaves,  ami  the 
forest  trees  surrounding  a  novel  and  most  i)ictures(jne  pulpit,  extemporized 
for  the  occasion.  From  the  number  coniirmed.  the  amount  of  the  ott'erings, 
and  the  crowded  churches,  we  have  a  gratifying  proof  that  the  parish  is  ablj' 
and  successfully  worked." 

It  was  deemed  a  special  pnvilege  by  any  family  to  have  Bishop 
Pinkney  for  their  ouest.     He  drew  all  hearts  to  himself  bv  his 


230  LIFE    OF    BISHOr    PINKNEY. 

loving  ways,  his  gentle  manners,  and  that  sympathetic  interest 
and  kindness  which  he  felt  for  all  with  whom  he  was  brought  into 
any  social  or  churchly  association.  The  little  children  would 
gather  around  him  with  that  heart-instinct  which  tells  a  child 
where  to  find  sympathy  and  the  tokens  of  aiiection.  Not  infre- 
quently was  he  known,  after  a  brief  rest  on  his  arrival  at  the 
house  where  he  was  to  be  entertained,  to  go  out  on  the  lawn,  if 
the  season  permitted,  to  join  in  the  playful  sports  of  the  young 
people.  He  possessed  a  most  attracting  power  in  drawing  to 
himself  the  youth  of  both  sexes.  His  visits  were  always  remem- 
bered with  pleasant  and  grateful  feelings. 

Later  on  in  his  Episcopate  he  held  what  he  termed  his  Episcopal 
missions — that  is,  in  the  intervals  of  his  regular  appointments  he 
woukl  secure  a  few  days  for  himself,  and  take  with  him  two  or 
thi-ee  of  the  clergy  and  go,  by  a  previous  arrangement  with  the 
rector,  to  some  church,  usually  in  the  country,  and  hold  a  two  or 
three  days'  mission  service — the  whole  time,  as  much  as  possible, 
devoted  to  the  sacred  ministrations  of  prayers  and  preachings. 
He  thought  these  services  were  promotive  of  much  sj^iritual  good. 

By  these  indefatigable  labors  on  the  part  of  the  Assistant  Bishop 
the  work  of  the  Episcopate  was  soon  brought  to  a  most  satisfac- 
tory condition.  Bishop  Whittingham,  realizing  more  and  more 
his  disability  for  active  work,  contined  himself  to  such  visitations 
as  he  was  able  to  make  in  Baltimore  city  and  to  such  duties  as 
may  be  termed  the  office  work  of  a  Bishoj),  in  correspondence 
and  in  such  official  acts  as  properly  emanated  from  him  or  required 
his  special  sanction. 

Besides  those  strong  expressions  of  satisfaction  at  the  result 
of  the  election  of  Dr.  Pinkney  as  the  Assistant  Bishop,  which 
Bishop  Whittingham  used  in  the  letter  of  October  19  already 
quoted,  he  took  occasion  in  his  adtbess  to  the  Convention,  in  1871,. 
to  say :  * 

'•  The  detail  of  bis  (the  Assistant  Bishop's)  toil  iu  visitation,  begiin  almost 
immediately  after  his  consecration  and  continued  unremittingly  to  this  very 
day,  you  will  of  course  learn  from  his  own  address.  I  may  be  permitted  to 
observe  that  the  result  is  what  the  diocese  has  never  before  obtained — the 
complete  visitation  of  the  whole  within  the  conventional  year." 

The  holdiiig  of  the  triennial  meeting  of  the  General  Conven 
tion  in  October,  1871,  in  Baltimore,  was  matter  of  much  interest 
and  gratification  to  the  members  of  the  Church  in  that  city  and 
throughout  the  diocese.  At  the  annual  convention  in  May  of 
that  year  committees  werea])pointed  to  select  and  secure  a  suitable 
church  for  the  meetings  of  the  hodj  and  to  extend  hospitalities 
to  the  prelates  of  the  Church  of  England  and  other  rej^resentatives^ 
from  abroad.  Arrangements  were  made  by  the  clergy  and  church 
members  in  the  city  for  the  hospitable  reception  of  the  Bishops. 

♦See  Convention  .Joiunal.  1S71.  ]).  2.'j. 


LIFE    OF    iUSllOP    I'INKM.V.  2'M 

and  fk'riciil  deputies.  The  followiiii;-  wci'c  tlic  dei-ical  an. I  liiv 
deputies  from  the  diocese  :  Kev.  Drs.  Leeds.  Huttoii,  Nelson,  juiil 
Lewiii,  and  the  Messrs.  F.  W.  ]5rinie.  Wm.  G.  Harrison,  Jieniurd 
Carter,  and  Hon.  D.  N.  oMa^ruder.  Bishoj)  Pixksky.  for  tlie  first 
time,  took  his  seat  in  the  House  of  Bishojjs.  He  cordially  united 
with  Bishop  Wliittin<^ham  and  with  the  derffy  and  laity  of  Balti 
more  in  welcoming-  the  august  body  to  the  chief  ciVy  of  the 
diocese  and  in  extendino-  all  courteous  attentions  and  hospitalities. 
Through  Bishop  Pinkneys  thoughtful  consideration  a  luimher  of 
the  Bishops  on  the  Sundays  during  the  sessions  of  the  i-onvention 
were  iinited  to  officiate  in  churches  of  the  neighboring  cities, 
"Washington  and  Georgetown,  and  take'  part  in  some  special 
church  assemblies  there  held. 

At  the  close  of  the  session  of  the  General  Convention  the 
Assistant  Bishop  resumed  his  active  wcn-k  of  Episcojjal  visitations. 
Referring  to  these  labors  of  the  A;-.sistant  Bishoj).  the  senioi- 
Bishop,  in  his  convention  address  of  the  ne.vt  year,  after  alluding 
to  his  own  condition  of  bodily  infirmity  largely  disabling  him  for 
active  exertion,  thus  speaks  : 

"  In  this  forced  degree  of  withdrawmeut  from  work  I  have  had  the  great 
consohxtiou  of  knowing  that  the  iinceasing  activity  and  unwearied  diligence 
of  your  Assistant  Bishop  was  much  more  tlian  supplying  my  hick  of  service, 
and  that  his  faithful  and  most  acceptable  labors  were  affording,  throughout 
the  year,  to  every  outlying  portion  of  the  diocese,  an  amount  of  ])astnral 
superintendence  and  instruction,  as  well  as  the  exercise  of  all  Episcopal 
functions,  to  an  extent  which  it  had  never  before  been  the  fiivoralih-  lot  ..f 
Maryland  to  enjoy." 

In  August,  1872,  Bishop  Whittingham  was  importuned  and 
persuaded  to  go  to  Germany  as  the  representative  of  the  Church 
in  the  United  States,  to  express  sympathy  with  and  give  encour- 
agement to  the  "  Old  Catholic  "  movement,  then  exciting  great 
interest  throughout  the  Anglican  communion  and  in  the  American 
Church.  At  the  General  Convention,  held  the  preceding  year, 
the  Bishop  of  Maryland  w'as  deemed  as  the  one  most  admirably 
fitted,  by  his  great  learning  and  ardent  devotion  to  the  principles 
of  a  true  catholicity  in  the  Church  of  GOD,  to  be  enti'usted  with 
this  dehcate  and  important  commission.  He  was  accordingly 
requested  by  a  resolution  of  the  House  of  Bishops,  in  1H71.  to 
"  visit  Europe  to  ascertain  the  state  of  the  Church  reformation  iu 
Germany  and  Italy."  He  at  first  and  for  some  time  hesitated  to 
accejjt  the  appointment.  The  following  letter  of  his  to  Bishoj) 
PiNKNEY  shows  liow  he  yielded  at  last  to  the  earnest  i)ersuasives 
that  he  should  go  ;  and  the  rescri])t  following  the  letter,  giving 
sole  jurisdiction  to  the  Assistant  Bishop  during  his  absence,  is  (mo 
of  those  docviments  so  characteristic  of  the  precision  an<l  thoi-- 
oughness  with  which,  in  all  official  acts,  he  executed  his  Episcopal 
palmers  : 


232  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 


"  Bishop  Whittingharn  to  Buhop  Pinkney. 

"  Baltimore,  August  28,  1872. 

"  My  Dear  Bishop  :  After  some  weeks  of  as  great  perplexity  and  anxiety 
as  I  ever  remember  to  have  experienced,  I  have  at  hist  succumbed  to  the 
pressure  brought  to  bear  on  me  from  many  quarters  at  home  and  aljroad, 
and  utterly  against  my  own  judgment  and  inclination,  have  consented  to  go 
to  Europe'  to  testify  the  interest  of  <mr  Church  in  the  "Old  Catholic" 
movement,  and  do  whatever  may  be  carefully  and  discreetly  done  to  help  it.* 

"  Down  to  the  10th  or  12th  of  this  month  I  considered  the  question  of 
my  going  as  quietly  settled  the  other  way — on  grounds  which  you  will  find 
stated  in  the  copy  of  a  letter  to  Mr.  Langdon,  which  for  that  reason  I 
inclose  in  this,  together  with  a  copy  of  the  invitation  from  Germany  received 
the  day  before. 

"  But  Bishop  Smith,  when  the  copy  of  that  letter  from  Langdon  reached 
him,  addressed  both  to  me  and  to  others  such  eai-nest  remonstrances  against 
my  refusal  to  go,  as  compelled  me  to  reconsider  my  position  :  and  when  on 
Tuesday  last  I  was  assured  that  the  sum  needed  to  defray  the  expenses  of 
myself,  chaplain,  and  secretary  was  made  up,  and  on  Saturday  last  received 
the  further  assurance  that  Dr.  Hobart,  as  my  chaplain,  and  Dr.  Julius  D. 
Hose,  as  my  secretary,  would  be  ready  to  embark  with  me  on  the  4th  of 
September,  I  could  only  acquiesce,  j^raying  GOD  to  overrule  my  weakness 
and  insufficiency  for  His  glory,  and  so  do  1)y  others  what  I  but  too  sensibly 
feel  is  not  to  be  looked  for  as  to  be  done  by  me. 

"  The  intense  anxieties  of  the  three  weeks  of  correspondence  and  receiving 
of  visitors  on  the  business  in  hand,  which  have  intervened  since  the  7th, 
have  totally  interfered  with  my  diocesan  work,  which  down  to  that  time  I 
had  kept  pretty  steadily  on  with  and  regularly  dispatched. 

"  I  am  obliged,  therefore,  to  trespass  on  your  kindness  so  far  as  to  ask 
your  prompt  attention,  under  the  commission  which  I  this  day  make  out  for 
you  as  full  executive  of  the  diocese,  to  the  accumulation  of  hackwork  grow- 
ing out  of  about  a  dozen  letters  which  I  remit  to  your  address  at  Bladens- 
burg,+  as  rather  safer  than  sending  them  to  the  Springs.  *  *  *  [The 
Bishop  here  notes  some  special  matters  he  wishes  to  receive  attention.] 

•'I    came   hither   yesterday,  and   leave   to-morrow   morning.     You  may 
imagine  what  one  thousand  and  one  cares  distract  a  man  leaving  at  ten  days' 
notice  for  an  absence  of  fr(jm  six  months  to  a  year  I     My  prayers  shall  go  up 
for  you  unceasingly,  and  my  humble  blessing  and  love  are  with  you. 
"Ever  faithfully,  your  loving  brother, 

"W.  E.  WHITTINGHAM. 

"  Rt.  Rev.  W.  Pinkney,  D.  D." 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  Bishop's  rescript : 

"  To  the  Right  Reverend  William  Pinkney,  D.  D.,  LL.  D., 

' •  Aanixta nt  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Maryland. 
"  Right  Reverend  and  Dear  Brother  :  Having  acceded  to  the  expressed 
wish  of  many  of  our  brethren  that  I  sliDuld  cai'ry  out  the  resolution  of  the 
House  of  Bishops  in  the  last  General  Convention,  charging  me  with  the 
communication  of  the  favorable  regards  of  the  Bishops  for  the  noble-minded 
men  in  Germany  who  are  engaged  in  a  struggle  against  Papal  usurpation 
and  corruptions,  and  having    been    furnished  with  ample  means    for    the 


*  For  a  full  account  of  Bishop  Whittingham's  mission  to  the  Old  Catholics 
in  Germany,  see  The  Life  by  Dr.  lirand.  vol.  ii,  chaj).  v. 

+  Bishop  Pinkney  was  at  that  time  at  the  White  Sulphur  Springs,  Ya., 
taking  some  rest  and  recreation. 


LIFE    OF    l'.ISl|()|>    JMNKNKV.  2'.V.i 

expouiliture  necessary  in  sn.li  j.>uiiieyinKl>ri>i)t>ily  ac(<.iii|iiiiii.'il :  anil  Id-in^;. 
t'uithennore,  fully  int'oriiit'd  of  tin-  coiicurrciK-e"  of  the  clergy  mid  laity  of 
my  diocese  in  my  so  midfitiikiii^'  to  serve  the  Church  al.roAil.  while  still 
continuing  in  a  condition  of  disal)lement  for  the  more  activi-  functions  of 
lay  dioeesan  ministry,  I  am  a1)out  to  leave  the  Diocese  of  Marvland  with 
the  intention  of  goin^'  out  of  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  ami  of  remain- 
ing abroad  for  the  space  of  three  calendar  months  or  more  :  and  in  accord- 
ance with  the  tenor  of  the  canon  for  such  case  made  and  provided,  do  hereby, 
by  this  writing  under  my  hand  and  seal,  autliorize  you,  William  Pinkne'v. 
Assistant  Uishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Maryland,  to  act  as  the  ecclesiastical 
authority  thereof,  in  full  and  sole  cliarge  and  responsibility,  and  in  fulfilment 
of  all  the  functions  and  otHces  of  the  Episcopate  in  the  said  Diocese  of 
Maryland,  so  to  continm-  and  act  to  all  intents  and  purposes  until  this,  my 
present  writing,  shall  have  been  by  me  revoked  upon  my  personal  returii 
within  the  diocese. 

"  Witness  my  Episcopal  se:il  and  signature  this  twenty-eighth  day  of 
AugiLst,  in  the  year  of  our  LORD  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy- 
two,  and  of  mv  Ejjiscopate  the  thirtv-second. 

[seal]  '  •' WILLIAM  ROLLINSON  WHITTINGHAM, 

''Bishop  of  Mori/land. 

"  Done  in  Baltimore  this  2Hth  of  August,  1872." 

Bishop  Whittiuoliam  returned  from  his  mission  to  the  "  Old 
CathoHos  "  in  Germany  in  November  following,  but  he  did  not 
withdraw  the  rescript  of  sole  jurisdiction  which  he  had  given  to 
Bishop  PiNKNEY.  On  the  contrary  he  seems  to  have  puri)osely 
left  it  in  the  hands  of  the  Assistant  Bishop  that  he  might  feel 
the  greatei"  freedom  in  his  Episcopal  ministrations. 

The  following  letter  has  reference  to  this  subject  : 

"  Bix/iojy  Whittingham  to  B/s/iop  Phikiiey. 

"Baltimore,  November  '21,  1873. 

"  My  Dear  Bishop  :  I  have  looked  carefully  through  the  file  of  our  cor- 
respondence and  the  other  papers  received  from  you,  and  I  believe  that  I 
am  not  mistaken  in  supposing  that  I  have  neither  withdrawn  nor  received 
back  from  you  the  commission  of  full  jurisdiction  given  vou  in  August, 
1872. 

"What  I  have  intended  by  leaving  it  with  yt  m  was,  that  you  should  feel  your- 
self completely  unhampered  in  going  al>out  the  diocese  in  your  t)fficial  work  : 
always  aljle,  whenever  in  your  judgment  it  should  be  culled  for,  to  do  any- 
thing that  a  Bishop  might  under  any  circumstances  deem  himself  called 
upon  to  do ;  of  course,  in  all  cases,  giving  me  the  information  needful  to 
hinder  any  clashing  or  collision  in  our  acti(jn. 

"  I  have  understood  your  retention  of  the  commission  to  signify  accept- 
ance of  this  arrangement  for  joint  exercise  of  our  common  trust :  and 
certainly  have  no  wish,  for  my  part,  to  make  a  change  which  could  only  jmt 
both  you  and  me  to  much  more  trouble,  and  would,  in  my  judgment,  tend 
seriously  to  limit  your  usefulness  in  tlie  administration  of  the  diocese. 

"I  sent  a  couple  of  the  •  ofltices,'  to  your  address,  to  Bladensburg,  last 
night:  and  I  send  a  couple  more  to  Washington  to-day.  There  are  still  a 
few  here,  which  Mi-.  Moore  can  send  if  wished. 

"  Affectionately  and  truly,  your  friend  and  brother, 

■     '  ••  W.   W.   WIIITTINrniAM. 

"Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Pinkney." 


234  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

At  the  General  Convention  of  1874,  and  at  all  succeeding  meet- 
ings of  the  body  during  his  life,  Bishop  Pinkney  was  constantly 
])resent.  It  is  not  known  that  he  took  any  very  active  part  in  the 
discussions  of  the  House  of  Bishops ;  but  it  is  well  known  that 
he  was  held  in  loving  admiration  l>y  its  members  and  honored  for 
his  true  loyalty  to  the  Church.  During  his  long  Presbyterate  he 
never  participated  largely  in  the  debates  of  the  general  conventions. 
The  force  of  his  character  and  the  well-recognized  soundness  of 
his  \-iews  upon  Church  questions  were  silently  more  effective  than 
spoken  words.  Not  that  he  was  studiously  reticent  in  the  House 
of  Bishops ;  for  he  has  been  known  to  say  that  he  had  on  several 
occasions  fully  expressed  his  views  upon  measures  before  the 
House. 

He  was  much  mterested  in  certain  initiatory  movements  in  the 
General  Convention  of  1874,  touching  the  "  use  of  the  Book  of 
Common  Prayer  and  provisions  for  shortened  ser^dces  for  morn- 
ing and  evening  prayer  on  days  other  than  Sundays  and  special 
feast  and  fast  days,  and  for  amending  the  "  Lectionary  " — move- 
ments that  ultimately  resulted  in  the  definite  acts  of  1883  and 
1886.  In  1874  the  following  constitutional  amendment  was  j^assed 
in  the  House  of  Deputies  by  a  very  large  vote.  Of  the  clergy 
representing  41  dioceses  36  voted  for  it ;  and  of  the  laity  repre- 
senting 29  dioceses  24  voted  for  it.  The  amendment  was  as 
follows :  * 

"'Besolced.  the  House  of  Bishops  coucurriug,  That  the  following  be  pro- 
posed and  made  known  to  the  several  dioceses  as  an  amendment  to  articles  8 
of  the  constitution,  to  be  added  at  the  end  of  the  article  as  it  now  stands,  to 
wit,  the  words  :  ^Provided,  That  the  General  Convention  may,  by  canon, 
arrange  and  set  forth  a  shortened  form  of  morning  and  evening  prayer,  to 
be  compiled  wholly  from  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  or  it  may  authorize 
the  same  to  be  done  by  any  diocese  for  its  own  use.'  " 

This  proposed  amendment  was  concurred  in  by  the  House  of 
Bishops,  with  the  excej^tion  of  the  last  clause :  which,  by  action 
of  the  Hovise  of  Deputies,  was  stricken  out. 

But  at  the  next  General  Convention,  in  1877,  the  House  of 
Deputies  refused  to  ratify  the  amendment.  Still  a  measure  like 
this  could  not  rest,  and  it  continued  to  be  agitated  until  the 
changes  and  modifications  of  1886  were  enacted,  and  that  with  the 
pro])al)ility  of  yet  further  changes  to  be  made  in  the  future. 

Bishop  Pinkney  was  so  conservative  in  his  views,  and,  as  some 
might  consider,  so  "  old  fashioned  "  in  his  churchmanship,  that 
he  was  slow  to  believe  that  any  changes  at  all  were  necessary 
in  the  order  for  the  celebration  of  the  Divine  services  ;  and  yet  he 
was  fully  alive  to  the  extending  work  of  the  Church  throughout 
the  whole  country,  and  to  the  need  of  such  adaptations,  wisely 


*  See  Journal  of  General  Convention,  1H74,  pp.  li:)5-'(),  and  207. 


LIFE    OF    BISHOl'    PINKNEY.  '2^5 

considered  uiul  siifely  ordered,   as   would   i'orwuiil    lier   onward 
progress. 

At  tliese  general  conventions  of  the  Cluircli  Bishop  Pinknky 
uniforn)ly  declined  to  be  the  recipient  of  private  hospitalities, 
because  he  preferred  takinf^-  up  his  abode  with  the  clerj^^y  and  lay 
deputies  of  his  diocese,  at  hotels.  And  it  was  there  that  he  was 
wont  to  meet  and  hold  long'  and  delightful  converse  with  some 
of  his  fellow-Bishops  and  a  number  of  congenial  clerical  brethren 
from  different  dioceses.  The  evenings  after  dinner  were  usually 
spent  in  pleasant  social  converse  and  in  animated  discussions  ujjon 
matters  pending  before  the  convention.  Dispensing  to  all  his 
friends  who  indulged  in  the  luxury,  his  choice  Havanas,  there  was, 
in  the  little  group,  "  the  feast  of  reason  and  the  tiow  of  soul." 
Those  who  were  privileged  to  be  present  at  these  informal  clerical 
gatherings  will  long  chei'ish  the  remembrance  of  the  hours  so 
pleasantly  passed. 


23Q  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 


CHAPTEE  XXV. 

Letters  to  Judge  Huntington — Burial  of  Confederate  Dead.     1873-'74. 

Reference  has  been  frequently  made  to  the  close  friendship 
between  himself  and  Judge  S.  H.  Huntington.  This  friend 
resigned  his  official  position  in  the  Court  of  Claims,  left  Washing- 
ton, and  retvirned  permanently  to  his  home  in  Hartford,  Connect- 
icut, in  December,  1873.  So  close,  for  many  years,  had  been  his 
association  with  this  bosom  friend  that  Bishop  Pinkney  felt  very 
deeply  the  sejiaration.  In  a  letter  written  to  the  Judge  about 
this  time  he  gives  expression  in  the  most  glowing  terms  to  his 
affectionate  feelings,  and  speaks  in  unbounded  admiration  of  the 
character  and  worth  of  his  friend. 

In  the  intensity  of  his  feelings,  where  his  affections  and  friend- 
ships \\ere  concerned,  or  his  sympathies  in  any  way  excited. 
Bishop  PixKXEV  uses  the  strongest  and  most  fervent  language  ;  and 
in  his  soul  he  fully  meant  all  that  his  words  express.  Tender  and 
susceptive  in  a  high  degree,  there  was  an  ever-ready  outflow  from 
his  mind  and  heart  of  thoughts  and  sentiments  towards  whatever 
he  found  true  and  good,  beautiful  and  noble,  in  human  character. 
What  may  have  seemed  like  excessive  laudation,  bordering  on 
the  confines  of  flattery  or  mere  compliment,  was  with  him  the 
genuine  expression  of  a  real  feeling  of  affection,  or  of  apprecia- 
tion, or  of  admu'ation. 

He  writes  to  Judge  Huntington  as  follows  : 

'*  December  20. 

"  My  Dear  Judge  :  I  had  laid  out  to  spend  Thursday  night  with  you,  but 
you  had  left.  I  know  not  what  I  shall  do  when  you  leave  finally.  I  always 
felt  that  yi)U  were  my  wisest  counsellor  in  difficulty,  my  truest  friend,  my 
loving,  sympathizing  brother.  You  are  my  beau-ideal  of  a  man  and  devout 
churchman. 

"You  leave  an  office  you  have  made  honorable  by  sterling  official  integrity 
and  the  highest  executive  and  administrative  ability.  You  leave  Washing- 
ton, where  y<JU  reflected  the  highest  credit  on  your  State  and  won  for  your- 
.self  the  respect  and  admiration  of  all  good  men  and  true.  But  I  lose  more 
than  all  beside,  for  you  were  ever  gentle  and  tlniughtful,  a  kind  critic  of 
many  weaknesses,  a  wise  and  faithful  friend  to  me.  I  lose  you  when  I  can 
least  afford  it.  Our  acquaintance  was  the  child  of  Providence.  It  began  in 
the  sick-room.  I  had  seen  you  before  and  loved  you  long  before  I  knew  you. 
But  thus  it  was  that  my  heart  was  drawn  out  towards  you  in  all  its  fulness, 
and  it  gives  me  pleasure  to  know  that  not  a  ripple  ever  discom'^josed  the 
stream  of  our  frieiidshi]).  It  is  as  fresh  to-day  as  it  was  fourteen  years  ago. 
I  regret  y(jur  withdrawal  from  Washington  and  the  office  luireau.  I  know 
your  place  cannot  be  supplied.  I  rejoice  to  think  that  you  are  to  return  to 
the  bosom  of  your  family.     GOD  has  blessed  you  in  your  son  and  daughter — 


LIFE    OF    lUSHor    PINKNEY.  2.'{7 

wonderfully,  si^'iiiilly  hlcsscd  you.  They  have  hct'ii  iiiouldfd  oii  n  iiolile 
patteni;  und  if  they  were  not  all  you  couM  wish  yreat  would  he  tiicir  fault. 
I  do  not  i-calizc  that  you  arc  indei'd  ^roiii<r  from  us.  Now.  Judyf,  rlonot  ^ive- 
U])  your  native  business  habits;  carry  office  life  into  your  sweet  domestic 
retirement  :  you  will  need  it.  No  man  of  your  ener^'y  and  nu-ntal  elasticity 
can  get  along  without  full  employment.  You  can  have  it  in  your  books  anil 
rural  life,  and  by  way  of  beginning  jmt  me  down  as  one  of  your  correspond- 
ents, and  we  will  write  of  books  and  measvires  (Church  and  State ) ;  you  know 
I  am  not  good  for  news.  I  shall  try  to  pay  you  a  yearly  visit.  But  then 
the  days  of  long  absence  will  be  deeply  felt.  The  loss  of  your  counsel,  the 
sound  of  y<n;r  welcome  voice  I  ]iut  life  is  made  uji  of  changes;  the  un- 
changeable is  in  advance  of  us. 

"  May  (tOD  bless  you,  and  guide  and  keep  you  in  all  your  ways.  May  He 
sweeten  all  life's  joys  and  sanctify  each  cross  that  He  sees  it  good  to  lay  upon 
you.  Love  to  all.  I  have  written  a  sermon  to-day.  held  two  services,  deliv- 
ered a  lecture,  paid  one  sick  visit,  and  now  close  with  this  hasty  letter  at 
12  p.  M. 

"  Yours  ali'ectionatelv, 

•  W.  PINKNEY. 

''  Judge  Huntington." 

His  letter  to  Judge  Huntiiioton  of  the  next  year  is  oue  partly 
of  condolence  under  domestic  bereavement  and  partly  of  his 
depression  and  anxiety  tonehino-  matters  tliat  were  disturbiuo- 
the  General  Church. 

••  JdniKiri)  ('..  "74. 

"  My  Dear  Judge:  The  new  year  has  broken  on  yo\i  amid  the  shadows 
that  have  gathered  over  your  heart  and  hearthstone  ;  and  yet  it  breaks  on 
you  with  much  of  beauty  and  of  glory.  The  one  taken  was  ripe  for  the 
passage  through  the  dark  valley.  She  had  tasted  deeply  of  the  cup  of 
inteusest  suffering,  had  borne  her  cross  with  meekest  patience,  and  now  that 
she  is  no  longer  an  object  of  your  care  and  loving  solicitude,  you  may  think 
of  her  as  in  the  rest  of  Paradise.  The  green  grass  will  grow  over  her  grave, 
and  the  flowers  will  bud  and  bloom  there,  if  you  feel  as  I  feel,  that  the  green 
grass  and  the  flowers  are  best  suited  to  the  sleeping  place  of  the  just ;  but  you 
have  the  greater  memories  of  her  love  and  the  sweeter  flowers  of  her  daily 
planting  and  watering  in  the  garden  of  your  heart  to  refresh  you  in  the  sere 
and  yellow  leaf. 

•'  I  do  wish  you  a  Happy  New  War.  For  smiles  and  tears  may  meet  and 
mingle.  I  hope  you  will  take  care  of  your  cold.  As  we  grow  older  there  is 
more  need  of  watchfulness.  I  hope  also  that  you  will  prosecute  your  work. 
The  pleasant  excitement  of  office  work  must  not  lie  followed  by  mental 
stagnation.  Y'ou  have  too  full  a  brain  for  idleness;  not  that  you  could  be 
idle.  You  need  mental  effort.  How  I  wish  I  could  run  over  when  I  have  a 
leisure  hour,  and  hear  you  read  some  work  of  power.  I  have  much  to  thank 
you  for.  Yott  were  always  wise  in  counsel,  rich  in  resources,  and  fertile  in 
thought.  Indeed,  Judge,  I  think  that  somehow  or  other  you  were  not 
assigned  your  trite  place.  As  the  head  of  the  court  you  would  have  shed 
lustre  on  it,  and  made  it  the  sanctuary  of  justice.  And  now  I  feel  very 
jealous  of  your  quietude  at  home,  and  beg  you  to  season  it  with  that  sort 
of  mental  work  which  will  give  you  pleasure  and  other  fruit  of  rich  flavor. 

"  I  saw  Judge  Loriug  at  the  Louise  Home.  We  dined  there  together  with 
Mr.  Corcoran  on  his  birthday.  He  is  a  wonderfully  clever  nnui— full  of 
thought  and  high  sentiment.  He  is,  I  think,  one  of  the  most  agreeable  men 
I  have  met  with— one  of  the  old  class  of  lawyers  and  a  bright  specimen 
of  that  class.  He  spoke  of  Judge  Taney,  and  told  me  that  Custis  suid.  when 
asked  what  he  had  seen  of  Washington,  '  I  saw  the  great  Chief -Justice ;  all 


238  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

else  sauk  into  nothingness  Avlien  compared  to  him.'  It  was  high  praise  from 
a  high  sonree.  Loriug  remarked,  Marshall  and  Taney  tilled  the  office,  and 
duly  filled  it.  It  is  now  looking  for  an  occupant :  this  I  say,  and  who  can 
till  it  ?  Snrely  not  the  nominee.  Do  you  know,  dear  Judge,  that  I  think  the 
disapi)earance  of  the  old  system  of  pleading  is  cause  of  sorrow ';  It  was 
the  glory  of  the  profession.  It  was  more  just  in  its  operation,  though  not 
so  quick.     It  tended  to  make  men  logical,  for  it  was  the  quintessence  of  logic. 

"  The  scenes  that  are  meeting  us  in  the  Church  are  siafficiently  humiliat- 
ing. Cummins  has  secured  for  himself  a  most  enviable  notoriety,  and  stands 
condemned  by  his  own  record  in  a  way  that  strikes  one  with  astonishment. 
I  hope  nothing  will  be  done  to  raise  the  cry  of  persecution.  The  law  is  sure 
but  slow.  I  would  wait  its  sentence  calmly  and  quietly.  He  has  so  far 
only  gathered  to  his  support  those  who  never  possessed  the  Church's  confi- 
dence or  respect ;  and  if  what  he  says  be  true,  that  some  are  waiting  for 
places,  we  have  good  ground  to  say  of  the  balance  that  they  are  no  better. 
I  feel  sad  when  I  think  of  the  opposite  wing,  who  are,  I  fear,  doing  us  no 
less  injury.  Romanizing  the  Church  is  not  less  treasonable.  From  what  I 
see  there  is  good  ground  to  fear  that  Rome  is  at  work  within  us.  I  will 
•send  you  a  paper  from  a  churchman  of  Baltimore,  a  layman,  which  so  far  as 
I  see  is  rank  Romanism  in  all  but  the  headship  of  the  Church.  Don't  cir- 
culate it  :  but  read  it  and  tell  me  what  you  think  of  it.  "Well  I  you  and  I 
will  not  live  to  see  the  end  ;  but  others  will.  Our  next  General  Convention 
will  be  the  most  momentous  ever  held.  I  wish  you  could  be  one  of  its 
deputies. 

"  I  have  just  finished  a  sermon  to  young  men,  which  I  am  to  preach  at 
the  Ascension  Sunday  evening. 

'•  Really  I  am  alarmed  at  the  size  of  this  letter.  It  lacks  other  qualities 
as  much  as  it  does  brevity :  it  had  better  never  been  ^\Titten.  You  know  I 
write  currente  calmno.  without  thought,  and  if  it  were  not  for  the  knowledge 
that  you  pass  over  its  errors  and  correct  them,  I  would  not  write  at  all. 

"  Love  to  all.     The  verses  are  very  sweet,  sublimely  simple.     I  read  tliem 
with  great  though  pensive  pleasure.     So  sweet  a  harp  so  early  hushed ! 
"  Yours  affectionately, 

"W.  PINKNEY. 

"  The  Hon.  S.  H.  Huntington. 

"  P.  S. — I  have  a  work  of  Cousins,  his  introduction  to  the  History  of 
Philosophy,  which  we  must  read  together  as  soon  as  I  can  go  to  Hartford. 
It  is  truly  marvellous  in  power. 

"  We  had  a  sweet  day  with  E.  *  *  *  She  came  down  for  a  day.  She 
is  the  perfection  of  excellence  ;  so  like  her  father.  She  is  very  fond  of  you 
and  the  girls,  and  Mrs.  H.  Her  visits  are  always  most  refreshing.  What 
strikes  me  as  so  wonderful  in  her  character  is  the  singular  blending  of  dig- 
nity and  sweetness,  humility,  and  a  proper  self-assertion.  I.  is  very 
jjromising.  He  will  make  his  mark.  His  knowledge  of  the  law  is  singularly 
thorough  for  one  of  his  years.     But  I  must  really  close.     Good-night. 

"  W.  P." 

BrEiAL    Ceremonies   of   Confederate   Dead   at   Silver    Spring.    Grace 
Church,  Montgomery  County,  Maryland,  1874. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  year  1874,  Bishop  Pinkney  was  called 
to  take  part  in  some  burial  services  over  the  remains  of  Confed- 
erate soldiers  who,  "  upon  the  occasion  of  the  demonstration 
against  the  fortifications  around  the  city  of  Washington,  Jvdy  11, 


LIFE  OF  iiisiioi'   imnkm;v.  2.'l'.t 

1864,"  fell  in  the  eno'ag-emeiit.  und  were  •■  inlt  ricil  ii|>iiii  the  tieM 
immediately  where  they  fell."  * 

"On  Friiliiy,  tho  lltli  of  Dt'crniluT,  1K71,  tli.-sc  iiiuains  wen-  ri'iiit.v.Ml 
by  their  {'onft'deriitf  fiiciuls  residing,'  in  and  amund  WaNhiutrtiiu  i-ity.  imd 
transferred  to  a  lot  jjrnvided  for  the  i)urpose.  in  tlie  ^'nmnds  nf  Viraee 
Church,  near  Silver  Springs.  Mont','oniery  ruunty.  Maryland,  wliere  they 
received  Christian  Imrial  at  the  hanils  of  the  forh)\vin^,'  Ki>iseo])iil  eh-r^'v- 
men:  Bishop  William  Pinkney  ;  Dr.  Buck,  of  Kock  Creek  Church :  Dr. 
Elliott,  of  the  Church  of  the  Ascension,  Wiishinj,'tou,  D.  C.  ;  Dr.  Williams, 
of  Christ  Church.  Geor-^etown  :  und  Dr.  Everett,  of  Grace  Churcli,  Mary- 
land. At  the  conclusion  of  the  Imrial  ceremonies.  Dr.  A.  Y.  P.  Garnet't. 
who  hud  been  selected  us  the  orutor  of  the  occasion,  delivered  the  address. 
Bishop  Pinkney  concluding  the  ceremonies  by  reciting  au  origimd  pc^em  :" 

ODE. 

By  Bishop  AVm.  Pinkney,  D.  D. 

'■  With  measured  step  we  to  the  spot  re])uir 
Where  we  our  honored  dust  would  lay  to  rest. 
A  tear  we  drop  upon  the  soft,  fivsh  sod. 
While  skies  ubove  us  do  their  tints  unfold. 
And  winter's  chilling  ])last  is  on  the  air, 
And  scarce  a  bird  doth  trill  its  native  song, 
Or  soothe  to  rest  the  tranc^iiil  hour  of  eve  : 
And  yet  we  would  u  garland  throw  of  flowers 
Upon  the  graves  we  dig  in  silence  here. 
And  draw  a  satisfaction,  sweet  indeed. 
From  act  of  love  paid  to  the  sleeping  dead. 
'Tis  true  we  do  not  know  the  names  of  those 
We  would  this  day  and  hour  conuniMnorate, 
Yet  in  the  depths  of  ocean  lay  the  pearls, 
Not  seen  to  mortal  eye,  deep  hidden  there  : 
And  to  the  page  of  history  unknown 
Are  heroes,  who,  within  another  sphere, 
Will  take  their  jjlace,  the  brightest  of  the  throng. 
These  fell  iinnoted  'mid  the  cannon's  roar 
Beneath  the  flag  they  did  so  bravely  wave 
Regardless  of  the  perils  of  the  field ; 
And  when  they  fell,  no  mother's  hand  was  near. 
Nor  sister's  loved,  nor  In'other's  loved  as  they, 
The  death-dew  from  the  jjallid  brow  to  wipe. 
Or  whisper  in  the  ear  sweet  words  of  love. 
Or  speak  of  home,  the  dear  ancestral  hall. 
Or  river  on  whose  flower-enamelled  banks 
They  woke  the  echoes  of  their  gleeful  step. 
Or  noble  oak,  beneath  whose  quiet  shade 
They  dreamed  those  dreams  of  fairer  days  ahead. 
Which  they  would  never  more  on  caith  behold. 
And  yet  the  weeijers  on  the  hearthstone  wept, 
Whose  tears  still  linger  by  the  vacant  seat. 
To  tell  the  scene  of  (lesolatiim  there : 
Sadness  now  reigns,  where  once  the  smile  of  joy 
Threw  o'er  the  heart  its  own  magnetic  spell. 


*  These  proceedings,  with  the  Address  of  Dr.  Garuett  and  the  Ode  <tf 
Bishop  Pinkney,  were  published  in  a  pamphlet  soon  after  their  occurence. 


240  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

You  met  the  fate  a  soldier  does  not  dread. 

The  death  upon  the  dark,  ensanguined  fiekl, 

"When  at  the  drum-beat,  or  the  Vnigle's  note. 

His  gallant  step  moves  quickly  to  the  front, 

SuMimely  bent  to  conquer  or  to  die. 

Your  great  commanders  have  the  call  obeyed. 

And  now.  like  you,  they  sleep  beneath  the  sod. 

The  one.  among  the  foremost  of  the  foremost  men 

In  all  the  ages  of  the  mighty  j^ast. 

Whose  name  will  gather  beaiity.  as  (jn  air 

It  floats  o'er  earth  or  o'er  the  azure  sea, 

Wellnigh  alone  in  its  sublimity. 

Symmetrical  in  form,  as  pure  as  brave, 

Lee  had  a  mind  of  vast  and  varied  powers ; 

While  not  a  dew-drop  in  its  lily  cup 

Was  fresher  than  the  heart  that  burned  within ; 

And  not  a  tear-drop,  but  the  emblem  was 

Of  the  deep  sympathy  he  felt  for  all. 

It  may  be  questioned  whether  strength  or  love 

In  him  was  the  controlling  principle. 

One  thing  we  know,  he  was  in  all  things  great, 

In  each  estate  of  sunshine  or  of  shade. 

When  on  the  topmost  wave  of  great  success, 

Or  in  the  valley  of  adversity, 

He  was  self-poised,  the  same  meek  man  of  faith. 

The  other  like  a  thunderbolt  of  war. 

Resistless  in  its  course,  as  rapid,  too. 

Remains  the  marvel  of  this  martial  age. 

His  name  can  never  die — as  long  as  Tell 

Shall  live  to  thrill  the  ages  171  their  flow. 

So  long  will  Jackson  live,  the  one  bright  star. 

To  shed  its  burning  lustre  nigh  and  far. 

No  more  the  deafening  sound  of  cannon's  roar 
Disturbs  the  silence  of  this  peacefiil  hour. 
The  war  is  ended :  and  we,  who  now  repair 
To  drop  a  tear  upon  your  dew-washed  bier. 
May  meet  as  brothers,  one  in  heart  and  hope, 
And  feel  the  kindling  of  the  patriot  flame. 
That  finds  its  emblem  in  the  star-lit  flag 
That  waves  alike  o'er  graves  wliere  rest  awhile 
The  Northern  soldier  and  Confederate  brave. 
Death  consecrates  this  hour :  it  soothes  the  heart 
And  hushes  into  calm  rejiose  the  feuds 
That  mar  this  carking,  troublous  world  of  ours. 
It  bids  us  weave  bright  links  ui>on  the  chain 
We  would  entwine  around  the  brotherhood. 
And  dew  distil,  from  hearts  that  banded  are, 
Of  kindly  charity  and  noble  deeds. 
Sleep  on.  ye  gallant  bnive.  the  night-winds  sigh 
As  they  o'er  you  a  sad  refrain  send  forth : 
And  when  the  singing  birds  come  l)ack  in  spring 
They  will  pour  forth  their  song  in  sweet  accord, 
And  now  and  then  some  comrade  will  repair 
To  this  sweet  spot,  your  valor  to  recount. 
And  keep  your  deeds  embalmed  in  memory. 


LIFE    OF    lilSllol'    I'lNKNKY.  '241 

We  feel  the  toneli  of  sorrow's  hallowed  liainl. 

And  iis  we  throw  the  dust  upon  your  ^riives, 

And  sij^h  to  think  tluit  we  are  left  alone. 

We  would  the  ^raee  invoke  for  eaeh  and  all 

To  Itrini;  the  nohle  ship  our  fathers  l)uilt 

To  her  tirni  mooring  Ijy  the  Mi;^hly  Kock — 

A  ship  that  stood  above  the  l>reakinj^  waves 

On  Independence  Day,  and  the  fi;rander  era. 

When  from  the  nnist-head  there  waved  a  banner 

All  set  with  stai's,  in  folds  of  deejjest  bhii'. 

The  pledge  of  union  and  e(juality. 

To  hush  the  passions  of  this  fleeting  hour. 

And  soothe  to  rest  the  i)erturbations  of  the  soul. 

And  rise  victorious  o'er  our  weaker  self. 

Is  wise — 'tis  beautitnl,  and  fair,  and  true. 

And  now  our  prayer  for  each  and  all  who  stand 

Besides  the  newly-opened  grave  to-day 

Is,  that  we,  each,  may  this  self-contpiest  gain. 

And  live  together  in  sweet  harmony. 

'  The  star  of  em])ire  onward,  westward  rolls,' 

And  as  we  gaze  upon  the  splendor  east 

Over  the  vast  tirmament  it  doth  illume, 

We  feel  that  uot  a  native  on  the  globe 

Can  boast  a  glory  that  surpasses  ours, 

If  we  but  faithful  prove  to  Liberty — 

The  liberty  that  rests  on  changeless  law, 

The  firm  adhesion  to  the  spirit  breathed 

By  patriot  sires,  the  nation's  boast  and  jjride — 

Where  they  did  first  the  stars  and  stript's  unfiirl, 

And  bid  them  sweep  the  pathway  of  the  sky, 

Each  star  ascendant  on  the  field  of  blue. 

And  yet  commingled  with  each  other  star 

Which  on  the  constellation  glows  and  burns." 


242  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 


CHAPTER  XXYI. 

l^EECTION    OF    THE    NeW    ChUKCH    OF    THE    AsCENSIOX.       1873. 

As  Bishop  Pinkney  was  closely  connected  and  identified  with 
the  enterprise  of  erecting  the  new  Church  of  the  Ascension  in 
"Washington  city,  it  is  necessary  to  give  some  account  of  the  work 
and  of  his  agency  in  its  accomplishment.  The  brief  statements 
that  follow  do  not  pretend  to  be  a  complete  history  of  the  many 
matters  of  interest  and  importance  that  were  connected  with  the 
enterprise. 

The  condition  of  the  church  Ijuilding  on  H  street  at  the  time 
of  his  accession  to  the  rectorshij)  of  the  parish  has  been  ah-eady 
stated,  and  also  some  account  given  of  the  enlargement  and  the 
improvements  which  he  soon  caused  to  be  made.  But  even  with 
these  alterations  the  church  was  still  an  unsightly  structure  as  to 
its  exterior,  which  was  exceedingly  plain,  dark  and  dingy,  and 
void  of  everything  pleasing  and  attractive  in  architecture.  The 
interior  was  churchly  and  commodious.  The  contrast  between  the 
interior  and  exterior  was  very  marked.  Moreover,  the  entrance 
through  a  low  basement  and  up  side  doul)le  stairways  to  the 
nave  was  very  objectionable.  In  addition  to  all  this  there  were 
some  fissures  in  the  walls,  secured  by  ii'on  fastenings,  that  gave 
to  many  persons  the  impression  that  the  walls  were  not  suffi- 
ciently strong  and  stable  to  justify  any  costly  or  permanent 
improvements  upon  the  building. 

As  early  as  1867  Dr.  Pinkney  felt  that  the  time  had  fully  come 
when  some  decided  measures  should  be  taken  for  the  entii'e 
remodelling  of  the  chiu-ch  building,  or  for  the  erection  on  the 
same  site  of  a  new  church,  more  ecclesiastical  in  structure,  more 
consonant  to  the  feelings  and  resoiu'ces  of  the  congregation,  and 
more  in  keeping  with  the  improvements  then  going  on  in  all 
secular  and  church  buildings.  At  the  period  referred  to  no 
definite  purposes  or  plans  were  formed :  though  all,  rector  and 
people  alike,  were  hopefully  looking  forward  to  the  time  when  the 
erection  of  a  new  church  should  be  accomplished.    , 

To  quicken  interest  in  the  matter  and  incite  to  some  positive 
action.  Dr.  Pinkney,  in  November,  18G7,  preached  a  sermon,  after- 
wards published,  which  attracted  considerable  attention.  It  was 
a  strong  and  urgent  ajjpeal,  full  of  the  rector's  glowing  zeal  and 
fervor,  to  the  vestry  and  congregation  to  take  m  hand  without 
further  delay  the  work  of  rebuilding.  Over  the  front  entrance  to 
the  church  there  was  a  recess  in  the  wall  filled  with  a  canvas 


LIFE    OF    lilSHdl-    I'lN'KNFV.  '2 VA 

tablet  bearing-  the  luuue  of  the  clnucli.  Imt  wliich  in  tinn-  lunl 
become  '"toni  into  shreds  and  was  tossed  to  and  fro  by  tin-  windn." 
To  this,  in  his  sermon,  Dr.  Pinkney  made  pointed  alhision  hi  these 
words:  ""For,  however  neat  and  ai)i)roj)riate  the  hitenor,  the 
exterior  is,  beyond  all  question,  poverty-stricken,  so  that  the  very 
elements  have  hung  out  a  banner  over  us,  a  banner  of  disti<'SK, 
from  which  the  very  name  of  the  church  is  o])literated."  This 
pointed  allusion  to  the  frontage  of  the  church  was  long  remem- 
bered and  often  spoken  of  in  the  congregation.  The  doctor 
followed  it  up  with  a  leaflet  containing  some  apposite  verses,  of 
which  these  are  a  sjaecimen : 

"  The  old  cliiircli  lias  not  a  bell  to  riiij^  out 
The  summons  to  psalter  and  prayer  : 
As  dumb  as  the  grave  that  near  it  is  laid.* 
No  sound  from  a  steeple  floats  there. 

The  four  briek  walls,  as  tall  as  the  jioplar  + 

Which  trembles  at  touch  of  the  breeze, 
Are  as  naked  and  bare  as  the  branches 

Of  the  winter-chilled  forest  trees. 

It  is  true  that  a  banner  betokens 

The  march  of  approaching  decay  : 
It  floats  on  the  breeze,  when  night  shrouds  the  earih. 

As  it  floats  in  the  sun's  hot  ray." 

Nothing,  however,  beyond  the  starting  of  a  church-l)uilding  fund 
was  done :  the  sums  for  which,  as  received,  were  to  be  invested  and 
suffered  to  accumulate.  The  time  was  not  ripe  for  the  work  of 
rebuilding. 

And  so  the  matter  stood,  with  some  small  additions  to  the 
building  fuud,  up  to  the  time  of  Dr.  Pixkneys  election  to  the 
Episcopate  and  his  consequent  resignation  of  the  rectorship  of 
the  parish,  in  October,  1870. 

The  new  rector,  in  entermg  upon  the  charge  of  the  parish,  soon 
found  that  there  would  be  formidable  difttculties  in  the  way  of 
consummating  the  work  of  rebuilding  the  church.  No  active 
measures  had  been  taken  for  that  purpose,  and  the  interest  that 
had  been  created  in  the  subject  was  closely  identified  with  the 
i^ersonality  of  Dr.  Pinkney.  Still  it  was  felt  by  the  rector  that 
the  work  of  reconstruction  should  go  on  ;  that  it  was  an  absolute 
need  for  the  welfare  of  the  Church  in  the  parish,  in  order  to  secure 
what  in  the  past  had  been  gained  and  to  provide  for  larger  growth 
in  stability  and  su(!cess  for  the  future.  To  ascertain  and  test  the 
mind  of  the  conoreofation  touchino-  the  matter,  the  rector,  in  the 


*  The  allusion  here  is  to  the  Van  Ness  mausoleum  in  the  adjoining  open  lot. 
tAlluding  to  the  aspen-leaf  poplar  thatstooddirectly  in  front  of  the  church 
■entrance. 


244  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    FINKXEY, 

lirst  year  of  his  incumbenc3%  at  the  begmiiiug-  of  Lent,  addressed 
to  the  cougregatiou  a  pastoral  letter,  recommending-  and  urging 
that  some  early  and  efficient  measures  should  be  taken  towards 
rebuilding,  and  proposing  that  the  oft'erings  at  the  Easter  Sunday 
following  should  be  set  apart  and  applied  to  that  purpose. 

The  response  to  this  pastoral  letter  was  an  Easter  offering  of 
.*1.296.31,  which  was  regarded  as  at  that  time  a  most  encouraging 
ottering.  During  this  and  the  succeeding  year  the  matter  was 
kejit  before  the  members  of  the  congregation  :  and  the  yestry  held 
several  meetings  in  regard  to  it.  It  became,  howeyer,  yery  uncer- 
tain whether  anything  at  an  early  day  would  be  done.  It  was 
evident  that  prolonged  delay  would  only  operate  injuriously  to 
the  enterprise.  The  rector  at  the  end  of  the  second  year  of  his 
incumbency,  feeling  the  responsibility  of  his  position,  deemed  it 
advisable  to  withdraw  from  the  charge  of  the  parish,  especially 
as  important  interests  called  him  to  resume  a  Church  and  educa- 
tional work  in  which  he  had  been  engaged  in  Montgomery  county. 
He  resigned  the  rectorship  in  October,  1872.* 

Upon  this  vacancy  in  the  parish  it  was  felt  by  both  the  vestry 
and  the  congregation  that  the  return  of  Bishop  Pinkney  to  the 
rectorship  was  most  necessary,  if  the  work  of  restoring  or  rebuild- 
ing the  church  was  to  go  on.  Hence,  upon  the  earnest  solicita- 
tion of  the  vestry,  he  was  induced  to  resume,  without  salary,  the 
rectorship  :  and  was  authorized  to  call  to  be  associated  with  him- 
self an  assistant,  competent  alike  for  the  ministerial  charge  of  the 
parish  and  for  the  active  promotion  of  the  work  of  rebuilding,, 
either  on  the  site  of  the  old  church  or  on  some  other  spot  to  be 
selected  as  more  desirable.  The  clergyman  called  to  be  the  Asso- 
ciate Kector  was  the  Rev.  John  H.  Elhott,  S.  T.  D.  In  thus 
resummg  the  rectorship  of  the  j^arish  it  was  distinctly  understood 
between  himself  and  the  vestry  that  Bishop  Pinkney  could  give 
only  such  time  and  oversight  to  the  interests  of  the  parish  as  his 
Episcopal  duties  would  permit:  with  this  understanding  he 
accepted  the  rectorship.  But  as  Bishop  Pinkney  was  a  man  of 
thorough  earnestness  and  conscientiousness  he  never  accejjted 
or  assumed  any  position  without  the  determination  to  come  up  to 
the  full  measure  of  its  responsibility.  He  purposed,  therefore, 
without  in  any  Avay  diminishing  or  relaxing  his  Episcopal  duties, 
to  exert  all  the  influence  and  energy  he  could  command  for  the 
welfare  of  the  parish  and  for  the  work  of  rebuilding  the  church. 


*  The  writer  takes  occasion  here  to  state  that,  whik'  his  relations  to  the 
vestry  and  the  congregation  of  the  Ascension,  dnring  the  period  of  his  rec- 
torsbij),  were  every  way  of  the  most  agreeahle  and  congenial  character,  the 
relations  between  himself  and  the  Assistant  Bishop  were  even  more  tender 
and  endearing  :  for  at  the  writer's  solicitation  the  Assistant  Bishop  continued 
to  keep  his  study  in  one  of  the  rooms  of  the  vestr^',  which  he  had  always 
occupied,  and  to  and  troin  which  he  coi;ld  come  and  go  with  the  same  free- 
dom as  when  he  was  the  rector  of  the  pai'ish. 


LIFE    Ol'    l;lSI|(H'    I'lNKM-.V.  245 

He  coiisentecl  to  have  this  additional  r(sii<.iisil)ility  laid  iijimi  liim 
out  of  the  love  whicli  he  bore  to  the  jjeojjle  whom  he  had  so  loij;,' 
and  ha})i)ily  served  in  his  ininistry,  and  because  he  f«'lt  that  by 
the  renewal  of  the  old  pastoral  tie  he  could  materially  aiil  tliem 
in  their  contemplated  work.  Nor  did  he  fail  wlien  the  work  of 
rebuilding-  was  undertaken,  and  all  through  the  time  when  it  was 
going  on  to  completion,  to  give  to  it  his  most  anxious  thought, 
his  wisest  counsels,  and,  as  largely  as  possible,  bis  own  personal 
contribution  of  time  and  means.  His  letters  to  Mr.  Corcoran 
during  the  period  show  the  depth  and  intensity  of  his  feelings  for 
the  success  of  the  work. 

After  the  acceptance  of  the  rectorship  of  the  Ascension  he  sub- 
mitted the  matter  to  the  considei-ation  of  the  conventi(Mi  of  the 
diocese.  The  response  of  the  body  was  that  it  was  '*  a  matter 
eutirelj^  within  the  wise  discretion  of  the  Assistant  Bishop." 

After  some  interval  of  time,  and  much  deliberation  in  confei- 
ences  held  by  tlie  Bishoj),  the  associate  rector,  and  the  vestiy.  it 
was  determined  to  l)uild  an  entirely  new  church,  of  such  solid 
structure,  laige  proportions,  and  ornate  architecture  as  would  be 
creditable  alike  to  the  congregation  and  to  the  Capital  City  of  the 
country.  Through  the  agency  and  by  the  munificence  of  Mr. 
W.  W.  Corcoran  a  new  site  m  an  eligible  and  prominent  position 
in  another  part  of  the  city  was  selected  and  secured.  The  follow- 
ing-named gentlemen  constituted  the  vestry  at  the  time  when  the 
work  was  inaugurated :  AV.  "\V.  Corcoran,  Henry  S.  Davis,  "\V.  M. 
Shuster,  J.  T.  Stevens,  Lowndes  Jackson,  N.  W.  JBurchell,  Thos.  L. 
Hume,  R.  W.  Burgess.  A  building  committee  of  large  experience 
in  business  affairs,  and  of  excellent  judgment  and  taste  in  construc- 
tion, was  appointed.  That  committee  consisted  of  Messrs.  Henry 
S.  Davis,  AV.  M.  Shuster,  and  Lowndes  Jackson.  To  the  work 
committed  to  them  they  gave  their  time  and  much  anxious  thought 
and  labor.  The  Assistant  Bishop)  and  the  associate  rector  cord- 
ially united  with  them  throughout  the  progress  of  the  whole  work. 
A  contract  was  made  for  the  new  building,  which  was  to  be,  in 
material,  of  white  marble,  and  in  style,  decorated  Gothic.  So  suc- 
cessful was  the  movement  that  the  Assistant  Bishop  and  the  asso- 
ciate rector  in  their  joint  report  were  ^d)le  to  state  to  the  convention 
of  the  diocese  in  May,  1878,  that  the  sum  of  $50,000  would  l)e  in 
hand  for  the  inauguratic^n  of  the  enterj^rise. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  new  church  was  laid  witli  approi)riate 
services  and  addresses  by  Bishop  Pinkxey  and  the  assisting  clergy 
on  the  9th  of  June.  1874.  It  was  a  beautiful  afternot>n  in  June. 
The  foundation  walls  were  well  raised,  a  large  })latform  erected 
for  the  convenience  of  the  Bishop,  of  the  attending  c-lergy,  and  of 
the  members  of  the  vestr}'.  A  commodious  chair  was  jyrovided 
for  the  venerable  Mr.  Corcoran,  who  was  present  on  the  occasion. 
A  large  concourse  of  interested  friends  of  the  church  gathered 
around  the  rising-  walls  and  filled  the  surrouncUng  grounds. 


246  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

The  description  wliicli  the  Bishop  gives  in  his  address  to  the- 
convention  of  the  laying  of  this  corner-stone  is  so  graphic  and 
interesting  that  it  is  here  introduced : 

'  •  At  6  p.  M.  I  laid  the  corner-stone  of  the  new  Church  of  the  Ascension, 
A  large  number  of  clergy  was  in  attendance.  The  Eev.  Dr.  Lewin,  the 
Dean,  read  the  opening  sentences,  the  Eev.  Mr.  Watkins  the  Psalms,  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Hutton  the  first  prayer,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gordon  the  lessons.  The 
Rev.  Dr.  Dudley,  of  Christ  Cluirch,  Baltimore,  now  the  Assistant  Bishop  of 
Kentucky,  delivered  the  address.  It  was  replete  with  beauty  and  power — a 
great  efl'ort,  and  fully  eqiial  to  the  occasion.  It  was  in  nothing  more 
admirable  than  in  its  clear,  bold,  incisive  statement  of  those  great  doctrinal 
principles  that  underlie  the  edifice  we  are  building  for  GOD.  The  Rev.  Dr. 
Elliott  followed  with  an  address  well  worthy  of  a  place  by  its  side.  This- 
was  a  bright  day  for  the  dear  old  church.  And  yet,  as  I  stood  there,  under 
the  broad  blue  sky,  and  took  in  the  dimensions  of  the  new  structure  that 
was  to  go  up,  a  stone  at  a  time,  in  all  the  grandeur  of  its  proportions,  I  felt 
the  power  of  contrast  between  the  time  when  I  stood  at  the  head  of  a  feeble 
baud,  for  the  most  part  a  stranger  to  my  own  friends,  in  the  midst  of 
strangers,  often  cast  down,  and  tlae  present  ho\ir.  when  all  is  bright  with 
the  sunshine  of  warm,  earnest  hearts,  beating  in  harmony  with  each  other, 
and  working  with  a  will  crowned  by  a  most  munificent  gift  laid  on  the  altar 
by  my  firm,  fast  friend,  W.  W.  Corcoran,  of  Washington.  It  was  a  strange 
contrast,  and  as  I  listened  to  the  tuneful  tongue  of  the  associate  rector,  and 
marked  the  fruits  of  his  patient  toil,  I  thanked  GOD  for  the  gift  to  me  of  so 
much  consecrated  learning  and  talent,  and  felt  that  success  is  now,  with  the 
smile  of  GOD,  assured  to  us. 

In  the  convention  report  for  the  next  year  it  is  stated  that 
"  the  new  chvirch  is  advancing  rapidly  towards  completion,  and, 
with  GOD'S  blessing,  will  be  ready  for  occupation  before  Advent." 
The  rejiort  also  states  that  '"  Mr.  Corcoran  has  added  $47,000  to 
his  former  gifts,  making  his  subscription  mount  uj)  to  the 
princely  sum  of  $77,000."  *         ^  * 

Bishop  PiXKXEY  was  profoundly  interested  in  this  work,  gave 
largely  of  his  own  means  for  its  prosecution,  and  whenever  he 
could  be  m  Washington  he  strove,  by  his  presence  and  counsels, 
to  stimulate  zeal  and  activity  in  the  enterjDrise.  In  these  efforts 
he  was  ably  assisted  by  the  associate  rector,  under  whose  con- 
stant oversight  the  work  was  carried  on.  It  had  so  far  progressed 
that,  at  the  close  of  November  in  1874,  the  Bishop  could  see  the 
walls  of  the  new  church  rising  up  in  their  strength  and  beauty. 
In  his  Thanksgiving  sermon  of  that  year  he  gives  expression, 
after  alluding  to  other  topics,  to  his  grateful  feelings.  He  was 
always  singularly  happy  in  his  Thanksgiving  sermons.  On  this 
occasion  he  referred,  as  visual,  to  the  great  and  manifold  blessings, 
tempoi'al  and  spiritual,  vouchsafed  to  our  people.  He  then 
sjjoke  of  the  happy  results  of  the  late  general  convention,  which 
had  closed  its  sessions,  in  these  words  : 


*  Mr.  Corcoran's  sub.sequent  gifts  to  the  new  church  brought  the  amoiint 
of  his  entire  offerings  to  over  sj  100,000. 


LIFE    OF    IJlsnoi'    I'I.\KM;v.  2il 

"  Our  late  Gom-val  Coniu-il  iiict  iiiul  si-piinitcil  ;  ami,  iKitwitlisfaiidin^,'  tin- 
predii-tions  of  some  that  the  seamless  robe  would  be  rent  in  twain,  and  u 
new  sehism  raise  its  crest,  and  the  fear  of  others,  the  Chureh  t-merned  from 
the  overcast  sky  '  l)ri<,'ht  as  the  sun,  fair  as  the  moon,  and  terrihh-  as  an 
army  witli  banners.'  Tlie  ancient  faith  is  asserted.  The  t'hurch's  authority 
is  vindicated.  Private  fancies  are  cut  up  by  the  ro(»ts.  With  wonilerful 
unanimity  our  General  Council  has  entered  her  i)rotest against  all  doctrines 
erroneous  or  doubtful :  and  henceforth  the  one  faith  will  yo  forth  from  the 
one  altar,  the  light  of  the  golden  candlestick  to  illumine,  sanctify,  uud  8uve  ti 
world  lying  in  the  wicked  one.  Every  loyal  son  will  be  wise"  to  obey  tlie 
voice  of  his  loving  mother:  while  the  lawless  will  be  held  to  a  strict 
account  when  admonition  fails  and  the  godly  counselling  is  set  at  naught." 

He  then  proceeds  in  glowino-  tcrnis  to  express  the  •^■•ruteful 
joy  wliich  tilled  his  heart  in  the  untieipiition  of  the  near  eomple- 
tion  of  the  new  Chnreh  of  the  Ascension,  and  especially  because 
GOD  was  opening-  the  way  for  meeting  the  onerous  responsil)ili- 
ties  that  had  l)een  incurred  for  its  erection  by  the  most  opportune 
and  liberal  otierings  made  by  one  who  had  already  contril)uted  so 
munificently  to  the  work.     He  said : 

'■  Beloved,  we,  as  a  congregation,  have  pre-eminent  cause  for  gratitude. 
In  a  work  of  fearful  magnitude,  where  the  venture  was  for  GOD,  and  where 
it  touched  the  very  coutiues  of  the  boldness  that  bordered  a  rashness.  He 
has  opened  up  a  way  out  of  the  diflticulties  that  environed  us,  a.s  wonderful 
as  the  faith  that  prompted  us  to  enter  ou  that  work.  *  *  *  Qne  half 
the  Imrden  is  lifted  as  noiselessly  as  the  force  of  the  unseen  power  that 
lends  succor  to  the  feeble,  who  would  otherwise  have  been  crushed  by  the 
burden.  When  no  one  looked  for  it,  no  one  expected  it,  the  princely  offer- 
ing was  made  ;  and  to-day  the  new  structure  is  rising  on  the  view,  watered 
by  the  dew  of  tears,  and  beautiHed  at  the  cost  of  a  self-sacrifice  on  the 
part  of  multitudes  that  I  have  never  seen  surpassed." 

He  could  not  withhold  his  earnest  supplications  as  grateful 
thoughts  tilled  his  soul : 

"  My  prayer  to  GOD  for  the  country  is,  that  it  may  never  forget  that 
righteousness  exalteth  a  nation.  May  the  flag  of  our  uationsdity  wave  over 
a  people  who  have  the  fear  of  GOD  before  their  eyes :  and  wherever  it  floats 
may  the  sisterhood  of  States  greet  it  in  the  spirit  of  the  good  olden  times, 
when  b\it  one  heart  l>eat  in  the  body  politic,  and  but  one  feeling  animated 
it.  My  })rayer  for  the  tireside  is,  that  it  may  rejoice  in  the  golden  glow  of 
a  household  at  unity  with  itself.  My  prayer  for  the  Church  is.  that  she 
may  treasure  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints,  and  plant  her  banner  by 
the  side  of  every  city  and  townshii)  in  the  land,  and  every  rural  hundred,  so 
that  not  one  of  the  thousands  who  have  swarmed  to  our  shores  from  the 
nationalities  abroad,  shall  fail  to  catch  the  echoes' of  the  Gloria  in  Errtlxis 
and  the  Te  Deum,  who  have  open  ears  and  hearts  willing  to  receive  the 
welcome  news  of  a  Saviour  born  to  redeem,  and  almighty  to  save.  May 
her  thanksgiving  be  ever  sanctified  by  a  tliank-oflering.  My  jirayer  for  my 
own  Church,  the  child  of  my  love,  my  joy  and  my  crown,  is.  that  each  tire- 
side  may  be  light  in  the  LORD,  and  glow  with  the  heart-love  that  makes 
sunshine  for  the  soul— that  it  may  be  a  house  at  unity  with  itself— that 
nothing  may  occur  to  mar  the  harmony  that  has  ever  been  your  crowning 
characteristic. 

*  *     *     "  Ou  next  Thanksgiving  Day  *  (GOD  willing)  we  shall  cross  the 

*  This  anticipation  was  not  literally  realized,  the  first  service  in  the 
church  being  held  a  few  weeks  later. 


248  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

threshold  of  the  Golden  Gate,  and  enter  in  to  gaze  on  the  maguifieent 
temple  we  have  reared  for  GOD,  with  overflowing  hearts :  and  if  we  have 
this  oneness  of  sonl  in  the  iinity  of  the  Spirit,  we  shall  give  to  GOD  more 
than  the  gold,  and  frankincense,  and  myrrh — the  worship  that  is  most 
acceptable  to  Him.  *  *  *  I  recognize  the  fact  that  my  feet,  far  down 
the  declivities  of  the  mountain,  may  not  join  in  your  triumphal  march  when 
you  walk  through  the  Gothic  aisle.  But,  be  this  as  it  may,  I  would  not 
part  with  the  one  wooden  beam  I  have  been  permitted  to  put  in  the  Iniild- 
ing  for  worlds.     GOD  bless  you,  watch  over  you,  defend  and  protect  you." 

Tlie  sermon  was  published,  and  the  Bishop  sending  a  copy  to 
his  friend,  Dr.  James  C.  Welling,  president  of  the  Columbian 
University,  received  from  him  the  following  letter,  which  expresses 
very  strikingly  the  high  estimate  which  that  cultiu-ed  and  distin- 
guished scholar  entertained  of  the  Bishop's  powers  as  a  writer  and 
jDulpit  orator  : 

"i>;'.  J.  C.  Welling  to  Bishop  Pinkney. 

"  The  Columbian  University, 

"  Washington,  January  6,  1875. 

' '  My  Dear  Bishop  :  I  have  very  sincerely  to  thank  you  for  your  thoughtful 
courtesy  in  sending  me  a  copy  of  your  eloquent  Thanksgiving  sermon.  I  have 
read  it  with  the  interest  and  the  admiration  which  all  your  pulpit  discourses 
are  so  well  adapted  to  excite  alike  by  their  matter  and  their  manner.  You 
belong  to  that  class  of  writers  in  whom  brilliancy  of  style  is  but  a  natural 
expression  resulting  from  solidity  of  thought.  The  diamond  takes  its  unri- 
valled polish  only  because  it  has  no  rival  among  the  precious  stones  in  point 
of  its  solidity.  But  the  facility  with  which  you  set  your  gems  is  with  me  a 
never-failing  source  of  wonder.  It  does  not  lieem  to  cost  you  any  efl'ort  to 
pour  out  this  copious  stream  of  eloquent  and  pious  meditation  on  the  most 
profound  themes  which  can  engage  the  tongues  of  men  or  angels. 

''I  do  not  supijose  that  you  have  ever  analyzed  the  secret  of  the  copia  with 
which  you  are  blessed  as  a  pulpit  orator,  for  I  believe  the  mind  in  many  of 
its  highest  exercises  often  works  unconsciously.  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander, 
whom  you  remember  so  well,  had  this  aVjundance  of  thought  and  in  some 
degree  a  similar  affluence  of  diction,  though  he  was  not  at  all  ornate  in  style. 
My  friend.  Prof.  Henry,  in  commenting  on  this  peculiarity  of  Dr.  A.,  referred 
it  to  the  fact  that  he  had  so  penetrated  his  mind  with  the  grand  themes  of 
theological  study  that  he  had  but  to  strike  the  rock  at  any  point  and  the 
waters  gushed  forth. 

"  I  congratulate  you  most  heartily  (jn  '  the  holy  and  beaiitiful  house  '  which 
is  rapidly  rising  in  all  its  noble  proportions  as  a  fitting  temple  of  the  Most 
High,  and  rejoice  with  you  in  the  emulous  benevolence  of  which  it  will  be  a 
glorious  symbol  when  the' cap-stone  is  laid  '  with  the  shoutings  of  glory  imto 
it.'  Mr.  Corcoran's  good  works  have  the  added  merit  of  provoking  others 
to  do  the  good  works  in  which  he  exults. 

"  Pardon,  I  pray,  the  length  of  this  note,  which  was  meant  to  be  a  simple 
acknowledgment  of  your  courtesy  and  has  grown  into  an  imposition  on  your 
I)atience. 

"  With  constant  regard,  I  am,  my  dear  Bishop, 
''Ever  affectionately  yours, 

"J.  C.  WELLING." 

Just  about  this  time  Bishop  Pinkney  and  the  associate  rector 
united  in  a  letter  of  "rateful   acknowledoment  to  Mr.  W.  W. 


LIFE    OF    P.ISHOI"    I'lNKNEV.  '21'.) 

Corcoriui  for  a  fiirtlici'  luuiiilicciit  ;^-itt  wliicli   he  IkhI    Int.  1\   n.  i.l.. 
for  the  cliurcli.      Their  joint  h'tter  is  us  foHows  : 

'^  Bishop  Pi nhiHi/  (11,(1   Dr.  ,/.  //.   EUi»tt  t,>  M r.  <',„•<;, ran. 

•  Washington,  Aor.  i;i.  IHTI. 

"  Deak  Sih  :  We  ilii  not  ffel  ^latistit'il  with  ourselves  iiutil  we  record,  more 
permiinently  than  in  spoken,  tleetin<^  words,  our  grateful  appreeiation  of  the 
princely  gift  which  you  have  just  made  to  Ascension  Church. 

"  We  frankly  confess  that  from  the  beginning  we  have  hoped  that  your 
generous  hand  would  make  this  chtirt-h  largely  your  own  memorial.  We 
hoj)ed.  as  chiirchmen.  that,  though  it  was  late  in  life  when  you  bowed  your 
lu^ad  to  receive'  the  waters  of  l)aptism,  "some  work  of  nol)le  note  might  yet 
be  done.'  We  hoped  that  the  citizen  who  had  adorned  this  capital  with 
temples  to  charity,  to  knowledge,  t(j  art.  w'ould  crown  his  life  work  by 
building  a  temple  to  Him  who  is  the  purest  charity,  the  highest  knowledge, 
the  perfect  beauty. 

"  For  this  consummation  of  our  highest  hoi)es.  we  thank  and  will  ever 
thank  you  ;  thank  you  for  lifting  a  burden  that  weighed  us  down  :  thank 
you  for  the  anticipiited  pleasure  of  worshipping  in  this  beautiful  temiile. 
This  is  little,  but  it  is  all  that  we  can  do.  We  know  that  there  is  One.  often 
dishou(jred  among  men,  who  looks  down  with  benign  acceptance  upon  your 
lavish  gift,  and  who,  though  He  bestows  all  His  rewards  through  grace,  has 
rich  rewards  in  grace  for  those  who  richly  honor  Him. 

"  May  you  long  live  to  worship  in  this  rising  temple  :  and  when  you  can 
worship  there  no  longer,  may  the  Ear  which  has  always  listened  to  the 
hungry,  the  thirsty,  the  stranger,  the  sick,  and  the  prisoner,,  listen  to  the 
gracious  welcome,  '  Come,  ye  blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom 
prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation  of  the  world.' 
'"  Afi'ectionately, 

"  WILLIAM  PINKNEY. 
"JOHN  H.  ELLIOTT." 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1875  the  new  Church  of  the  Ascension 
"  was  finished  and  furnished  throughout."  The  lirst  service  was 
hekl  on  the  tifth  of  December,  lieing  the  second  Sunday  in  Advent. 
The  Bishop,  in  his  address  to  the  convention  of  the  diocese  iii 
May  following,  thus  refers  to  the  interesting  and  happy  occasion  : 

"Held  our  first  service  in  the  new  church.  The  Bishop  of  the  diocese 
was  invited  to  be  our  guest  at  the  Ebbitt  House,  with  his  chaplain,  and  to 
preach  the  opening  sermon;  but  it  was  thought  best  that  he  should  not 
undergo  the  exposiu-e  at  this  season  of  the  year,  as  he  could  not  remain  over 
night.  He  has  kindly  promised  to  take  charge  of  the  consecration,  ami 
preach,  if  his  life  and  mine  are  spared.  This  was  a  day  to  stir  our  souls. 
and  most  nobly  did  my  young  brother.  Dr.  Elliott,  meet  the  grandeur  and 
dignity  of  the  ()ecasion'.  '  I  iireached  at  night.  I  hiul  long  hoped  and  waited 
for  this  event.  It  came  in  the  order  of .  God's  Providence,  as  many  of  His 
richest  blessings  come,  slowly:  but  it  gathered  to  itself  at  each  step  of  its 
progress  those  elements  of  moral  grandeur  that  made  it  only  the  more  wel- 
come when  it  came. 

"  The  precursor  of  it  was  the  widow's  mite.  Iweiity-tive  cents  handed  in 
by  a  very  aged  lady,  who  said.  '  here,  sir,  is  all  my  earnings  this  day.  and 
it  reached  its  culmination  in  the  boundless  hljerality  of  one  who  has  stood 
by  me  in  darker  days,  lightened  my  l)urdeus  by  words  and  deeds  brimful  ot 
sympathy,  the  surest  and  sweetest'guaranty  of  success.     AVith<mt  Mr.  Cor- 


250  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

coran's  aid  the  church  could  not  have  been  built.  Without  the  energy  and 
self-sacrifice  of  the  vestry,  not  often  i)aralleled,  it  could  not  have  been  built- 
even  with  it.  And  then  it  pleased  Cit)d  to  send  us  in  His  love  a  young 
co-laborer,  whose  vigilance  and  guiding  hand  kept  every  workman  at  his 
post,  and  who,  like  Nehemiah,  aroused  the  desponding,  and  tired  with 
intenser  zeal  the  more  biioyant.  until  the  cap-stone  was  laid  iipon  it,  with 
shoutings  of  glory  and  grace  to  Him  without  whom  the  workmen  labor  but 
in  vain.  I  desire  to  do  justice  to  all,  to  the  vestrv,  Mr.  Corcoran,  and  the- 
Eev.  Dr.  Elliott. 

"While  Bishop  Pinkney,  with  his  characteristic  humility,  takes 
no  credit  to  himself  for  what  he  had  done  and  was  still  doing, 
and  is  thus  giving-  all  due  honor  and  praise  to  others  for  their 
lil^erality  and  efficiency,  it  is  due  to  himself  and  to  his  memory  to 
siate  that  as  the  movement  for  the  new  church  first  originated 
with  himself,  so  the  whole  life-spring  of  its  onward  progress  was 
in  that  self-sacrificing  spirit  and  ardent  zeal  which  animated  his 
own  soul  and  was  by  him  kindled  up  in  the  hearts  of  his  peoj^le. 
As  without  others,  so  without  him,  the  church  could  never  have 
been  built.  His  influence  and  agency  were  felt  throughout,  from 
the  beginning  to  the  close  of  the  work.  After  his  death,  when 
the  associate  rector  had  succeeeded  to  the  rectorshii),  it  was  very 
aj^propriately  stated  by  him  in  his  report  at  the  diocesan  conven- 
tion of  1884,  in  anticipation  of  the  liquidation  of  the  debt  by  the 
1st  of  January,  1885,  that  "  should  the  debt  be  then  paid  the 
church  will  be  consecrated  as  the  Pinkney  Memorial  Cliurch." 

The  work  was  a  costly  one  and  requii-ed  for  its  completion  large 
sums  of  money  and  the  incurrence  of  onerous  liabilities.  The 
congregation,  as  a  whole,  was  not  a  wealthy  one  ;  but  as  the  work 
progressed  considerable  amounts  were  raised,  the  members  of  the 
vestry  and  of  the  congregation  contributing  to  the  fullest  extent 
of  and  almost  beyond  their  means.  Still,  when  the  new  church 
reached  completion  a  very  large  indebtedness  had  been  incurred, 
taxing  to  the  utmost  for  nearly  a  decade  of  years  the  energies 
and  resources  of  the  i:)arish.  This  indebtedness  was  a  source  of 
great  trouble  and  distressing  anxiety  to  Bishop  Pinkney.  He  had 
an  intense  and  almost  morbid  aversion  to  the  incurrence  of  debt, 
whether  hj  individuals,  or  churches,  or  religious  institutions.  He 
avoided  it  in  his  own  personal  experience,  never  going  in  debt  for 
anything,  and  always  bringing  his  own  personal  and  his  family 
expenditui'es  withm  the  narrow  limits  of  a  most  prudent  economy, 
in  order  that  he  might  have  to  give  to  others,  and  it  was  his  wont, 
as  we  have  seen,  to  dispense  the  far  greater  portion  of  his  salary 
in  acts  of  beueficeuce  and  liberality.  Hence,  as  the  rector  of  the 
l)arisli,  the  debt  for  the  new  church  weighed  heavily  and  sadly 
upon  liis  mind. 

The  following  letter  to  Mr.  Corcoran,  in  acknowledgment  of 
further  help  for  the  relief  of  the  church,  shows  how  painfully  this 
church  debt  weighed  u^jon  his  mind,  and  the  extracts  which  fol- 


LIFE    OF    MISFlol'    I'lNKNFY.  '251 

low  from  ;i  letter  of  bis  to  Jiul^e  Hiiuthi^4.oii  sliow  wlial  ].ers<iiiiil 
and  i)ecuiii;irv  sacritices  he  was  makiug^  in  belmlf  of  tlie  clnircli  : 

'•  Ih's/iop  Piiikuiy  t"  Mr.  ('"rri/raii . 

"  Soil  III />!/•  4,  1m77. 

"  Mv  Dkak  Mil.  CoKCORAN  :  I  fiiiinot  pcriuit  this  day  to  cl<isf  witliout 
tlmukiiii^  ymi  for  the  noble  contribution  offered  towards  the  lifting,'  of  our 
debt.  My  heart  has  been  very  heavy  for  a  h)n^r  time.  Suijeradded  to  the 
weight  of  the  diocese,  which  is  more  than  my  feebU-  heart  can  bear,  was  tlie 
terrilde  spectre  of  a  ])ossible  expulsion  from  a  house  I  helper]  to  build  for 
GOD.  You  have  been  more  than  kind  to  me.  When  laborin;,'  un<ler  causes 
of  de])ression.  throui,di  loni<  years  of  toil,  you  i,'ave  me  the  li^ilitnf  your  love 
and  contidenee.  In  the  ^ift  to  the  Church  of  my  time  and  means  I  think 
I  have  bt'cu  unselfish,  and  in  all  my  pleasant  official  relations  with  you.  tin- 
one  thou<;lit  that  no  clink  of  gold  was  audible,  save  in  the  present  work,  has 
been  most  comforting  to  me.  We  are  building  for  (tO]),  my  dear  friend, 
and,  therefore,  we  are  building  for  eternity  :  and  in  all  this  investment  we 
have  the  consolation  of  knowing  that  it  will  live  long  after  us.  I  feel  that 
my  work  is  alnu)st  done,  and  when  the  last  breath  is  drawn  I  shall  look  to 
you  as  the  one  who  has  done  more  to  lift  the  most  crushing  load  from  me 
than  any  other.  Personal  debt  I  have  avoided  as  the  jjlague  :  all  debt  I 
al)hor.  And  if,  in  the  ])rovidence  of  GOD.  I  shall  find  myself  delivered  from 
the  only  debt  I  have  ever  incurred,  a  debt  for  the  Church  of  (iOD.  which  I 
would  cheerfully  give  my  last  dollar  to  defray,  I  shall  never  more  subject 
myself  to  a  like  crushing  care. 

"  May  GOD  keep  you  and  bless  yoii,  giving  you  more  and  more  of  the 
sweet  sunshine  of  a  heart  ever  ready  to  devise  liberal  things  for  the  poor  and 
sorrowing,  in  GOD'S  name  and  for  His  honor. 

"  Affectionatelv, 

"  W.  W.  CoRcoKAN,  LL.  D.  '  W.  PINKNEY." 

Tlie  reference  in  the  above  letter  to  *••  the  gift  to  the  church  of 
his  time  and  means  "  is  best  explained  in  a  short  extract  from  a 
letter  to  Judge  Huntington,  written  during  the  same  year  : 

"  I  have  already  expended  out  of  my  salary  *  nine  hundred  dollars  a  year 
in  the  service  of  this  parish  for  four  years  last  past,  without  possible  advan- 
tage to  me  in  any  respect — sixteen  hundred  of  it  towards  the  building,  and 
the  balance  in  a  room  which  I  have  been  compelled  to  keej)  as  rector." 

And  the  further  reference  in  the  above  letter  to  the  "only  debt 
he  ever  incurred  "  is  explained  by  the  fact  that  after  the  comj)letion 
of  the  building — as  he  wrote  in  the  same  letter  to  Judge  Hunt- 
ington— he  united  with  the  vestr}'  in  signing  three  notes,  to  the 
full  amount  of  seven  thousand  dollars  and  upwards,  for  balance 
payment  to  the  builders;  and,  for  his  share  in  the  ol)ligation, 
offered  to  dispose  of  two  thousand  dollars  bank  stock,  which,  as 
he  stated  to  the  vestry,  ''  is  all  I  own  of  property." 

Out  of  the  fulness  and  liberality  of  his  soul  the  Bishop  was 
ready  to  give  his  last  dollar  foi-  tlie  l)enetit  of  the  church.  Through 
the  interj)Osition  of  members  of  the  vestry  he  was  subseipieiitly 


*  He  means  from  his  salary  as  Bishop,  for  he  received  no  salary  fr<>ni  th 
church  as  its  rector. 


"252  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PIXKNEY. 

relieved  of  his  part  of  the  pecuniary  obligation  in  those  notes. 
They  were  not  willing  that,  then*  valued  friend  and  beloved  rector 
should  be  subjected  to  such  great  personal  sacrifices. 

Bishop  PiNKNEY  did  not  live  to  see  the  debt  extiugaished. 
This  was  happily  accomplished  by  Easter  Day,  1885,  as  appears 
by  the  parochial  report  in  the  Journal  of  the  Diocesan  Conven- 
tion of  that  year,  in  which  it  is  also  stated  that  "•  the  total  cost  of 
the  church  and  lot,  in  principal  and  interest,  has  been  $205,000."'* 


*  See  Diocesan  Jourual  for  1885,  p]).  85-'G. 


LIFE    OF    JilSllol'    riNKNKV.  '2~>'l 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Church  School  for  Girls,  Washin(;t()n.  D.  ('.      IH'J'.i  '"("i. 

A  MOVEMENT  iu  wLicli  Bishop  PiNKNEY  took  deep  interest,  iunl 
which  he  en-rnestly  sought  to  bring  to  a  successful  issue,  was 
started  iu  Washington,  as  early  as  1873,  for  the  estahlislmient 
and  endowment  of  a  "  Church  School  for  Girls."  The  measure 
was  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  C(m vocation  of  Washington 
by  the  Assistant  Bishop.  An  organization  was  had  and  such 
steps  taken  as  would  secure  the  early  consummation  of  the  enter- 
prise. Prominent  in  that  organization  and  most  efficient  were 
the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Meyer  Lewin,  the  late  Hon.  Montgomery  Blau", 
and  others.  Bishop  Pixkney  preached  a  sermon  in  behalf  of  the 
measure,  and  most  earnestly  advocated  and  urged  its  prosecution. 
His  sermon  was  published  and  largely  circulated.  The  move- 
ment received  the  sanction  and  approval  of  Bishop  Whittingham. 

Meanwhile  the  rector  of  Rock  Creek  parish  and  his  vestry 
came  forward  with  the  most  liberal  proposal  to  donate  a  site 
and  sufficient  surrounding  grounds  for  the  school  on  the  parish 
glebe  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  venerable  parish  church 
building. 

In  his  report  in  the  Diocesan  Journal  of  1877,*  the  Rev.  ]Mr. 
Buck,  the  rector,  thus  refers  to  this  action  on  the  part  of  liimself 
and  the  vestry  of  the  parish : 

"  On  the  28tli  of  last  Juue  the  convocation  of  Washington  held  its  annual 
meeting  in  this  parish,  at  which  time  we  celebrated  the  centeuuial  of  our 
])resent  chnrcli  building,  and  legally  bound  ourselves  as  a  corporation  Ut 
deed  to  the  convocation  a  most  eligible  site  for  '  A  Church  School  fur  (lirls,* 
which  we  have  since  executed,  consisting  of  a  lot  ()f  ground  of  a  little  over 
eight  acres.  There  is  now  an  organized  Board  of  Trustees,  duly  incor- 
porated and  capable  of  holding  and  disbursing  property.  All  they  want  are 
the  funds  to  put  up  the  requisite  l)uildings  to  start  an  enterprise.  secon<l  to 
none,  for  the  good  of  the  Church  here  at  the  seat  of  Government,  and  else- 
where throughout  the  whole  land.  For  it  is  the  earnest  wish  to  make  this 
school,  if  not  the  first,  at  least  among  the  highest  iu  the  nation.  Sooner  or 
later  it  will  be  a  success.     Who  will  come  and  help  us  start  it  ?  " 

On  the  occasion  referred  to,  a  very  interesting  meeting  was 
held  in  behalf  of  the  school,  and  addresses  were  made  by  Bishop 

*  Pa.'e  142. 


•254  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

PiNKNEY  and  by  several  of  the  clergy.     One  of  the  speakers,  in 
the  course  of  his  remarks,  said : 

"  And  now  on  this  centennial  celebration  of  the  building  of  their  church, 
the  rector  and  the  vestry  of  this  parish,  with  wise  forethought  and  loving 
devotion  to  the  cause  of  Christian  education,  come  forward  and  say  to  the 
Chiirch  in  this  convocation  district.  Here  is  a  hallowed  si^ot  surrounded  by 
these  groves,  at  the  very  portals  of  this  consecrated  edifice,  in  view  of  the 
graves  and  monuments  of  the  sleeping  generations  gone  before,  adjoining 
one  of  the  most  beaiitiful  parks  that  art  and  wealth  can  adorn,  right  upon 
the  confines  and  in  sight  of  the  Nation's  Capital,  salubrious  in  clime,  and 
accessible  fi'om  every  quarter,  with  facility  to  command  every  advantage 
that  highest  culture  and  truest  refinement  can  need  or  use  ;  they  come  for- 
ward this  day  and  say.  This  is  and  shall  be  yours  to  build  here  a  noble  school 
for  the  education  of  the  daughters  of  the  Church,  and  others  as  well,  the 
mothers  of  the  coming  generations. 

"Shall  we  accept  the  gift?  We  have  accepted  it:  and  henceforth  it 
becomes  one  of  our  most  sacred  trusts,  to  go  forward  and  fulfil  the  promise 
-and  the  pledge  of  this  day's  holy  donation  and  commemorative  service." 

Bishop  PiXKNEY  deemed  the  measure  of  so  much  urgency  and 
importance,  specially  for  the  needs  and  interests  of  the  Church  in 
the  District  of  Columbia,  that,  in  his  convention  address  in  1874, 
he  solicited  for  it  favorable  consideration  and  co-operation  by  the 
Church  in  the  diocese.  Referring  to  the  matter  as  having  been 
before  the  convocation  of  "Washington,  he  said : 

"Among  the  most  important  topics  of  disciission  was  the  establishment  of 
a  school  for  girls  at  Rock  Creek.  It  is  a  sad  thing  that  we  should  make  such 
slow  progress  in  the  cause  of  education,  which  is,  beyond  all  qi;estion,  the 
great  work  of  the  Church  in  this  age  of  mental  activity  and  growth.  We  talk 
eloquently,  but,  alas  I  are  contented  to  be  very  barren  in  deeds.  I  am  well 
aware  that  the  moneyed  condition  of  the  country  is  fearfully  embarrassed. 
I  know  as  well  that  many  are  crippled  in  their  resources  by  the  stringency 
of  the  times.  Perhaps  in  no  portion  of  the  country  is  there  so  much  of  finan- 
cial distress  as  there  is  in  the  District  of  Cokimbia.  But  still  it  may  be  safely 
.said  that  a  great  deal  more  could  have  been  accomplished  if  we  only  felt  the 
need  there  is  for  promptness  of  action,  and  had  more  of  unity  of  design  and 
efi'ort  in  the  work  of  the  brotherhood.  What  we  lack  is  money.  Until  that 
is  raised  we  can  take  no  effectual  onward  steps  in  this  line  of  duty. 

"A  good  plan  oi  building,  on  a  moderate  scale  of  expenditure,  would  be 
wise.  The  first  step  in  any  enterprise  is  all-important :  and  until  the  first 
step  is  taken  we  waste  energies  that  would  otherwise  work  rich  resiilts.  and 
run  the  hazai'd  of  losing  the  tide  of  opportunity  when  on  the  fl(jod.  Men 
of  means  are  always  practical.  To  awaken  their  interest,  and  to  elicit  their 
liberality,  we  must  present  them  with  something  feasible.  This  done,  and 
under  GOD.  the  work  will  grow  and  grow  very  rapidly  on  our  hands.  I  am 
satisfied  that  the  churchmen  of  the  District  are  open  to  conviction.  If 
aroused  to  the  A-ast  importance  of  having  a  church  school  for  girls,  and 
assured  of  success  by  a  wise  and  energetic  administration  of  the  W(jrk,  they 
will  not  fail  to  resp(md  with  their  accustomed  liberality  to  the  call  for  help. 
Nor  will  they  longer  consent  to  be  without  a  training  spot  for  their  daughters ; 
or  perpetuate  the  moral  treason,  that  has  so  often  shocked  us,  of  sending 
their  daughters  to  Roman  schools,  where  they  will  be  sure  to  drink  in  the 
poison  of  erroneous  doctrine.  The  duty  is  too  obvious,  and  the  possibility 
of  its  prompt  discharge  is  too  patent  to  require  argument  or  an  appeal  to  the 
logic  of  figures.     Rock  Creek  is  the  spot  best  fitted  for  the  work.     Near 


LIFE    OF    lUSIlol'    IMNKNKV.  2/35 

■enough  to  the  great  thoroughfares  of  Imsiuoss  tn  l)f  oasy  .>f  appruacli.  and 
yet  sufficiently  remote  to  seeure  the  retirement  that  is  necessary,  if  Mends 
Ueiiuty  with  convenience,  and  presents  all  the  attractiveness  which  a  lionie 

retreat  for  s^'irls  should  jjossess." 

The  institution  c'ontenipl;it(Hl  in  this  niDvcnienl  was  (k-sioui'd 
to  pi(n'ide  the  highest  educational  advantages,  not  only  for  the 
daughters  of  Church  people  and  others  as  well,  permanently  resi- 
dent in  the  District,  but  also  for  that  large  class  of  pei-sous,  fi'om 
all  parts  of  the  country,  occupying  official  positions  in  Congress 
and  in  the  different  dei)artnients  of  the  Government  and  resilient 
in  Washington,  for  the  most  part  with  their  families,  who  rei|uire 
some  easily  accessible  school  of  high  grade  for  their  daughters, 
in  which  the  best  advantages  of  culture  could  l)e  seciu-ed  luider 
the  fostering  care  of  the  Church. 

By  that  sjjlendid  ofter  of  a  site  and  grounds  for  such  a  collegiate 
institution  for  girls,  from  the  rector  and  vestry  of  liock  Creek 
parish,  there  came  up  one  of  those  rare  opportunities  for  a  great 
and  noble  enterprise  which  when  i)romptly  seized  are  fraught  with 
immeasurable  results  of  good  and  blessing  to  the  Church. 

The  matter  progressed  so  far  that  plans  for  the  buildings  were 
drawn  by  an  architect.  The  enterprise  was  thought  to  he  so 
national  in  its  character  as  to  justify  an  appeal  to  the  Church  at 
large  for  assistance,  and  to  the  general  convention  for  recognition 
and  approval. 

Bishop  PiNKNEY  was  loth  to  l)elieve  that  such  a  grand  and  nolile 
enterprise,  which  in  its  consummation  would  reach  in  its  benefits 
to  the  Church  far  and  wide,  should  fail :  and,  not  abandoning 
hope  in  its  success,  as  late  as  1881  he  again  called  the  attention  of 
the  convention  to  it  in  these  earnest  words : 

"  I  would  now  address  a  word  to  another  portion  of  the  diocese — the 
churchmen  of  the  Washington  Convocation — on  a  topic  which  is  of  tran- 
scendent imjiortance,  and  which  concerns  them  especially.  I  allude  to  the 
Church  School  for  Girls  in  Washington.  Located  on  the  beautiful  and 
romantic  grounds  made  over  to  us  by  the  rector  and  vestry  of  St.  Paul's. 
Kock  Creek,  it  will  be  for  situation  the  delight  of  all  eyes.  I  am  satisfied 
that  all  tliat  is  necessary  to  insure  us  the  fullest  siiccess  is  the  beginning  of 
the  work.  The  time  for  argument  is  past.  We  mean  to  make  it  a  broad, 
conservative  school  of  the  Church.  There  mixst  be  no  room  left  for  question 
here.  We  mean  to  have  none  but  the  best  teachers,  and  to  secure  such  we 
shall  seek  to  reward  projjerly  the  genius  we  employ.  We  mean  to  make  it 
the  cheapest  education  we  can  :  for  it  is  the  children  of  the  Church  we  jiro- 
pose  to  educate,  and  many  of  them  are  without  the  ability  to  pay  for  an 
expensive  training.  You  must  do  your  part  first.  Show  to  the  Church  at 
large  that  you  realize  the  magnitude  and  vital  importance  of  the  work  by 
contributing  liberally  to  it,  and  then  you  may  U)ok  for  aid  outside  of  the 
diocese.  Your  position  entitles  you  "to  do  this.  Located  at  the  Capital  of 
the  nation,  you  will  be  called  to  educate  children  from  all  i)ortions  of  this 
great  sisterhood  of  States,  and  each  year  the  number  of  such  will  be  increased. 
Less  than  a  first-class  institute  ouglit  not  to  satisfy  us.  First-da.ss  we  cannot 
hope  to  make  it  without  the  means  to  secure  the  best  talent  the  country 
affords.     It  is  easy  to  say  the  scheme  is  chimerical ;  that  it  is  not  feasible. 


256  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

And  uotliing  is  surer  tliau  that  such  counselliugs  of  fear  will  make  it  what  some 
say  of  it.  But  cue  thing  is  certain.  If  we  of  the  t-lergy  and  laity  of  the 
Convocation  of  Washington  put  forth  earnest  and  united  effort  a  work  will 
be  achieved  which  will  make  the  Convocation  of  Washington  memorable  in 
the  ages  to  come,  and  crown  my  Episcopate  with  a  dignity  to  which  it  coiild 
not  have  aspired  if  left  to  depend  on  the  insignihcauce  of  the  man  who  Injlds 
the  See.  This  is  a  question  outside  of  the  narrow  limits  of  congregational- 
ism,  beyond  the  diocese,  co-extensive  with  the  boundless  area  of  this  glorious 
Eepubl'ic.  As  siich  I  commend  it  to  you,  and  pledge  you  my  personal  effort 
to  make  it  a  siiccess." 

Uuhaiipily  the  whole  measuie  fell  through  aucl  was  for  the  time 
abaudoiied,  but  not  without  the  hope  that  it  would  be  revived  and 
ultimately  carried  out  to  success.  Since  then,  almost  contiguous 
to  the  grounds  on  which  should  be  now  standing  a  grand  Church 
school,  there  are  rising  up  the  massive  walls  of  a  great  University 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  Chui-ch. 

The  records  of  Church  life  are  replete  with  instances  of  failure 
to  accomplish  great  enterprises  by  not  noting  and  seizing  the 
opportunities,  and  by  not  putting  forth  the  eflbrts  adequate  for 
theii"  accomplishment.  In  the  Diocese  of  Maryland  nothing  has 
been  harder  than  to  build  up  and  endow  educational  institutions 
for  the  children  of  churchmen.  "When  will  the  chiu'chmen  of 
Maryland  awake  to  the  momentous  work  of  Christian  education 
in  and  by  the  Church  ?  How  long  will  the  churchmen  of  the 
District  of  Columl^ia  delay  to  inaugurate  and  consummate  such 
a  work  within  the  borders  of  the  National  Cai3ital  ? 

The  following  condensed  statements  of  facts  in  the  history  of 
Rock  Creek  parish  may  be  here  introduced.  They  are  derived 
from  a  brief  historic  sketch,  in  J/»S'.,  prepared  by  the  esteemed 
rector.  Rev.  J.  A.  Buck. 

St.  Paul's  Church,  Rock  Creek  parish,  dates  back  in  its  origin 
to  a  very  early  period,  even  more  than  tifty  years  before  the  Amer^ 
ican  Revolution,  in  1776.  In  1719  a  movement  was  made  for  the 
erection  of  a  church  building  on  a  tract  of  land  consisting  of  one 
hundred  acres,  lying  about  two  miles  from  what  are  now  the 
northern  boundaries  of  the  Capital  City  of  Washington  ;  the  said 
tract  having  been  deeded  for  a  church  and  glebe  by  a  Mr.  John 
Bradford,  gent.,  of  Prince  George  county,  in  the  colony  of  Mary- 
land. 

There  have  been  two  church  btiildings  on  the  present  site. 
The  first,  a  plain  wooden  structure,  erected  in  1719  as  a  chapel, 
but  afterwards  made  a  parish  church.  It  stood  for  some  fifty 
years  and  fell  into  decay. 

In  17G8  the  present  church  building  was  commenced,  the  foun- 
dation laid  and  the  walls  erected — but  left  unfinished  at  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  Revolution.  The  walls  are  of  English  brick,  22 
inches  thick.  The  dimensions  were  40  feet  by  60  feet,  and  the 
height  of  the  ceiling  25  feet.     It  remained  for  a  number  of  years 


LIFE   OF    msiiop    1'INKM:V.  'J.'iT 

without  roof,  iuul  \vitlK)iit  ritlicr  llom-  or  l•(■ilillJ,^  Wlicii  it  wjis 
tinislicd  ami  oci-upicd  it  was  soou  found  to  be  too  hiy^v  for  the 
conj^Tt'gation  :  ami,  in  1H"2(),  the  interior  was  divided  into  two 
parts  by  a  partition — one  to  serve  for  the  church  services  and  the 
other  for  a  school  and  lecture  room.  The  eeilinji^  over  the  whole 
interior  was  lowered.  So  it  continued  until  18-4'.),  when  the  par- 
tition and  low  ceiling;  were  removed  and  the  whole  interior  jiroji- 
erly  fitted  up  and  furnished  for  the  divine  services.  The  })arish, 
from  its  origin,  had  been  greatly  blessed  in  having  a  succession 
of  faithful  and  earnest  rectors.  The  present  rectory  was  built  in 
1841. 

In  1852  the  present  incumbent,  the  Rev.  J.  A.  Buck,  entered 
upon  the  rectorship  and  for  now  nearly  forty  years  lias 
devoted  himself  with  singular  efficiency  and  marked  success  to 
the  work  of  l)uilding  up  the  parish,  and  placing  it  upon  a  l)asis 
of  permanent  })rosperity  and  growth.  In  the  very  beginning  of 
his  ministry  he  had  the  foresight  to  see  the  important  part  and 
place  which  St.  Pauls  Church,  with  its  large  and  valuable  glebe, 
almost  contiguous  to  the  city  boundaries  of  Washington,  was  to 
till  in  the  future  work  and  progress  of  the  Church  in  the  District 
of  Columbia  ;  and  he  had  at  the  same  time  the  wisdom  to  deWse, 
and  the  energy  to  carry  out  such  measures  of  parochial  work  and 
prudential  management  as  would  put  the  parish  into  a  position 
for  great  future  advantage  and  growth. 

Under  the  rector's  supervision,  and  the  active  co-operation  of  the 
vestry  and  congregation,  very  great  improvements  and  additions 
to  the  church  building  were  made  in  1870.  The  entire  structure 
was  remodelled,  the  old  walls  retained,  a  commotlious  chancel 
was  added,  and  also  an  organ  recess  and  vestry  room,  the  win- 
dows lengthened  and  tilled  with  stained  glass,  and  new  pe^'s  put 
up :  and,  to  add  to  its  solemn  and  picturesque  beauty,  the 
English  ivy  was  planted,  and  now  covers  nearly  every  portion  of 
the  walls. 

When  thus  remodelled  and  completed,  the  Church  was  conse- 
crated, as  has  been  stated,  on  the  6th  of  July,  1871. 

It  is  to  be  added  that  about  one-half  of  the  glebe  had  been  set 
apart  for  a  Cemetery,  upon  which  large  sums  of  money  have  been 
expended  in  gravelled  walks  and  roads,  in  flower  plots,  in  orna- 
mental shrubbery-  and  evergreens,  and  in  i)roviding  a  pul)lic  vault 
and  a  conservatory  for  floral  decoration.  These  grounds  that 
surround  this  old  parish  church  and  the  beautiful  cemetery 
adjoining  are  now^here  surpassed  for  their  extent  and  adornment. 

When  the  District  of  Columbia,  with  perhaps  some  adjacent 
counties  of  Maryland,  shall  be  set  oft"  as  a  separate  diocese,  there 
may  be  found  here  upon  the  Rock  Creek  parish  glel)e  the  very 
spot  for  a  Bishop's  house,  clerical  homes,  schools,  hospitals,  and 
mission  agencies. 


258  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   TINKNEY. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Death  of  Mrs.  Pinkxey — Letters  to  Mr.  Corcorax.     1879-'80. 

In  tlie  spring  of  1879,  Bislioi?  Pinkney  was  called  to  sustain  a 
very  sad  and  afflictive  bereavement  in  the  death  of  his  revered 
and  beloved  wife.  She  died  on  the  28th  of  Aj^ril  of  that  year. 
In  the  heart  of  his  home  were  centred  the  Bishop's  purest  and 
sweetest  earthly  joys.  Though  necessarily  much  away  from  it, 
on  official  duty,  he  ever  -returned  to  it  as  the  hallowed  abode  of 
jDeace  and  love.  The  mutual  aftection  and  tender  offices  between 
himself  and  wife  cannot  be  adequately  stated  or  measured  by 
words.  Those  who  were  privileged  to  be  at  all  intimate  in  that 
happy  household  could  not  fail  to  see  the  tenderness  and  love 
that  marked  every  word  and  act  in  the  sphere  of  his  domestic 
life.  It  was,  therefore,  a  grievous  loss  to  the  Bishop  when,  in  his 
declining  years,  he  apparently  more  than  ever  needed  the  repose 
and  the  solaces  of  his  home.  There  was  no  child  m  the  family  to 
brighten  and  cheer  the  hours  :  and  the  solitary  surviving  brother 
felt  the  loss  almost  as  deeply  as  the  sorrowing  husband  of  his 
departed  sister. 

Mrs.  Pinkney's  health  had  been  failing  for  a  long  time,  rather 
through  the  increasing  mfirniities  of  age  than  from  disease  ;  but 
during  the  whole  period  of  this  sloM'  decline  her  mental  faculties 
contiuued  clear  and  strong,  and  her  faith  and  devotion  full  of 
fervor  to  the  end.  To  her  no  less  than  to  her  husband  it  was  a 
sore  trial  that  his  Ei:)iscopal  duties  requii-ed  him  to  be  so  much 
away  from  his  home.  When  advancing  years  and  the  evident 
approach  of  death  foreshadow  the  separation  for  time  of  two 
loving  hearts,  no  human  source  of  consolation  is  deeper  and 
sweeter  than  the  constant  communion  and  tender  offices  they  may 
share  with  and  render  to  each  other.  Sacred  are  such  houi's  and 
hallowed  are  theu'  memories.  Bishop  Pixkxey.  therefore,  most 
naturally  arranged  to  he  at  home  as  much  as  possible  dimng  the 
•declining  days  of  his  wife  :  but  it  is  noteworthy  that  his  record  of 
work  and  duty  in  the  diocese  shows  no  abatement.  In  his  Epis- 
copal address  to  the  convention  of  1879.  he  marks  the  few  days 
that  intervened  between  the  2-4th  of  April  and  the  3d  of  May  as 
^'  a  blank  filled  with  sadness "  to  his  soul.  It  was  markedly 
characteristic  of  him  during  his  whole  life  that  he  never  suffered 
jiersonal  or  domestic  matters  of  any  kind  to  interfere  with  the 
discharge  of  his  official  duties  as  parish  priest  or  as  Bishop. 
"Wearied,  sad,  and  ofttimes  tried,  he  would  go  forth  to  the  dis- 


LIFE    OF    IJISHOr    riNKNKY.  li.")'.» 

■charg-e  of  dut}-  as  though  thore  were  iio  longings  in  his  ht-iiit  U>v 
the  rest  and  the  (juiet  of  the  home.  Devotion  to  duty  was  the 
inspiring  and  governing  i)rinciple  of  his  Hfe. 

One  or  two  letters,  or  parts  of  letters,  will  suffice  to  kIkiw  the 
depth  and  poignancy  of  his  grief  over  the  loss  of  his  wife.  In  tlu* 
intensity  of  his  emotional  nature  he  could  scarcely  Hml  words  to 
express  his  thoughts  and  feelings.  If  his  intellectual  ])()wers  had 
not  been  so  solid  and  well-halanced  he  might  have  been  over- 
mastered by  feelings  that  would  have  marrecl  tin-  unity  and  beauty 
of  his  character  and  life. 

A  letter  to  his  friend.  Judge  Huntington,  written  duiing  those 
solemn  hours  that  intervene  Itetween  the  death  and  the  Inu'ial,  is 
as  follows  : 

''  April  2d,  IHT.K 

"  My  Deak  Judge  :  For  four  nights  in  succession  until  the  break  of  (hiy.  I 
have  watche.d  by  the  bedside  of  my  dear  wife  only  to  see  hope  expiring. 
Yesterday  at  five  o'clock  she  fell  asleep.  Oh  I  Judge,  this  darkness  is  fear- 
ful, and  yet  it  touches  only  this  world,  for  the  sweet  rest  of  Paradise  is  hers 
w'ith  the  glories  of  the  Resurrection. 

"  She  was  the  saiutliest  person  I  ever  saw,  if  by  it  you  mean  the  merging 
all  things  in  GOD'S  love.  Her  temper  was  perfectlj-  V)eautiful.  It  was  the 
sunshine  of  the  heart,  and  that,  too,  the  heart  that  was  full  of  sympathy  for 
others. 

"  My  day  is  turned  to  night  so  far  as  time  is  concerned.  Henceforth  my 
only  rest  will  be  in  work,  work,  work.  All  through  this  winter  I  have  lingered 
by  her,  and  no  matter  how  late  the  hour  when  the  day's  and  evening's  work 
was  over,  I  returned  to  her  to  catch  from  her  lips  the  words  '  my  precious 
Willie.'  No  more,  no,  never  more,  on  earth  will  those  music  tones  be  mine. 
Oh  I  no.  In  loneliness  and  tears  I  must  wend  my  way  along  to  catch  uj)  the 
echoes  of  this  wealth  of  love.  On  Thursday  night,  and  the  night  before, 
these  words  hung  on  her  lips  :  '  I  lay  me  down  to  rest,  for  Thou.  LORD,  only 
canst  sustain  me.  Into  Thy  hands  I  commit  my  soul,  O  GOD,  for  Chri.st's 
sake,  amen.  Oiir  Father,'  &c.  That  prayer  was  the  golden  tissue  of  her 
life.     I  was  not  worthy  of  her  love.     Oh,  no  ! 

"  Her  love  for  her  brother  was  beautiful.  Her  loss  to  him  is  beyond  the 
power  of  expression.  One  thing  cheers  me  a  little  :  I  never  sejiarated  them. 
All  the  long,  weary  hours  of  my  service  in  Washington  I  gave  her  the  sweet 
shelter  of  her  father's  trees.  How  wisely  we  might  have  done,  does  the  grave 
reveal?  How  sad  the  retrospect  I  We  seem  to  i)ass  through  life  blindly. 
I  do,  at  least.  Dear  Judge,  your  heart  will  yield  me  the  sympathy  I  need. 
For  we  have  walked  together  in  sweetest  fellowship. 

"  Affectionately,  your  afflicted  friend, 

"The  Hon.  Judge  Huntington.  W.  P." 

A  brief  extract  from  a  letter  written  at  the  same  time  to  ]\Irs. 
Dr.  Hanson  Penn,  an  old  parishioner  of  his.  and  the  life-long  friend 
of  his  wife,  may  be  given : 

"  I  do  not  murmur.  It  is  far  less  agony  than  I  deserve.  But  still  it  is 
night  with  me  so  far  as  this  world  is  ccmcerned.  If  I  may  be  l)read  to  the 
hungry,  and  soothing  to  the  sorrowing  :  if  I  may  help  to  wijjc  the  tear  from 
the  eyelid  of  others,  it  will  be  some  solace  to  my  brnisi-d  and  bleeding 
heart.     To  that  I  look.     For  grace  to  do  it,  I  i)ray." 


260  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PFNTKNEY. 

Tlie  fuueral  solemnities  were  held  on  the  30th  of  April,  and  the 
remains  were  deposited  in  the  graveyard  adjoining  St.  Matthew's 
parish  church.* 

Numerous  letters  full  of  condolence  and  tender  symj^athy  were 
received  by  the  Assistant  Bishop.  It  was  most  comfortiaig  to 
him  in  his  alHiction  to  receive  the  assurances  of  the  love  and  the 
prayers  of  his  manj^  friends  and  of  the  Church  throughout  the 
diocese. 

At  the  diocesan  convention,  held  in  May  following,  the  Assistant 
Bishop  presided.  Bishop  "NVhittingham  being  too  feeble  in  health 
to  be  present.  He  sent,  however,  to  the  secretary  of  the  conven- 
tion, "a  transcript  of  the  official  journal,  kept  in  obedience  to  the 
canons."  and  accompanied  it  with  his  "Address  to  the  Conven- 
tion." in  which  he  gave  brief  account  of  such  duties  as  he  himself 
had  been  able  to  perform.  In  that  address  he  committed  the 
brethren  of  the  clergy  and  laity  to  "  GOD'S  especial  blessing." 

It  proved  to  be  the  last  official  communication  of  the  Bishop  to 
the  convention  of  the  diocese. 

Upon  the  tirst  day  of  the  assembling  of  the  convention,  and 
immediately  after  its  organization  and  the  reading  of  the  Bishop's 
official  journal  and  his  address,  and  the  address  of  the  Assistant 
Bishop,  the  following  proceeding  was  had  :  f 

"  The  Eev.  Dr.  Leeds  offered  the  following  resolutiou,  which  was  imaui- 
moiisly  adojited  by  a  rising  vote,  the  qiiestion  being  put  by  the  secretary  : 

'^'■Resolved,  That  the  following  minute  be  adopted  as  the  sentiment  of 
this  convention  : 

"  '  The  elergy  and  lay  delegates  of  the  convention  send  greeting  to  their 
venerable  Father  in  GOD,  the  Bishop  of  the  diocese,  whose  unavoidable 
absence  from  their  council  they  deeply  regret,  but  for  whose  comfort  and 
restoration,  as  well  as  for  the  long  continuance  of  his  valuable  services  to 
the  Church,  they  heartily  pray.  They  beg  to  renew  to  him  the  expression 
of  their  affectionate  condolence  and  filial  veneration. 

"  'And, with  most  respectful  sympathy,  they  approach  the  Assistant  Bishop 
of  the  diocese,  in  the  great  sorrow  of  his  life,  to  tender  him  the  assurance 
of  their  prayers  in  his  behalf  anil  their  appreciation  of  the  noble  forgetful- 
ness  of  self  with  which  he  has  been  helped  of  GOD  to  prosecute,  as  before, 
his  arduous  labors  for  CHKIST  and  His  people.'  " 

At  this  same  convention  a  resolution  J  was  offered  by  the  late 
Rev.  Dr.  Gholson,  and  adopted  with  only  "  two  dissenting  voices," 
recpiesting  the  Bishop,  "  as  soon  as  his  health  will  permit,"  to 
address  a  pastoral  letter  to  the  clergy  and  laity  of  the  diocese  "  to 
urge  upon  them  the  duty  of  reverent  attention  to  the  instructions 


*  It  will  be  subsecpiently  seen  that  the  remains  were  afterwards  removed 
to  be  deposited  with  those  of  her  husband  in  tlie  Oak  Hill  Cemetery,  George- 
town, D.  C,  by  the  munificence  of  the  Bishop's  life-long  friend,  Mr.  W.  W. 
Corcoran. 

+  J(nirnal  of  1879.  j).  37. 

+  Journal  of  1879,  jtp.  44-'5. 


LirK    OF    insildl'    IINKNKY.  261 

solemnly  iiiul  uutlioritativt'ly  ^iveii  '"  in  the  Pastoial  Letter  of  the 
House  of  Bishops  for  1S71,  respecting'  ''private  confession.  " 

Bishop  AVhittingliam,  even  if  he  had  deemed  it  advisable  to  do 
so,  was  in  no  state  of  health  to  prepare  such  letter.  It  was  evident 
that  he  was  drawing  near  to  the  end.  His  c(nKliti(Mi  was  such 
that  soon  after  the  convention  special  arran<^ements  were  niaile 
for  his  conveyance  to  his  homestead  in  Orange,  New  Jersey,  where 
it  was  hoped  that,  by  change  to  the  country  air  and  under  respite 
from  all  official  anxieties  and  duties,  he  might  recui)erate. 

Dimng  the  summer  of  this  year,  l.ST'.l.  Bishop  Pinknkv  did  not 
take  any  vacation.  He  continued  his  visitations  tliroiigiioiit  the 
Avhole  season. 

The  letter  following  shows  that  he  had  determined  to  forego 
his  summer's  rest  and  contiiuie  on  through  the  year  at  his  work  : 

''AuffUKt  1,  1«79. 

"  My  Deak  Me.  Cokcoean  :  I  have  just  rctiivned  fur  two  dnys  from  a  visita- 
tion ;  aiul  ill  three  days  I  start  nut  on  another,  which  will  keep  nie  Itusily 
ocenpied  until  the  7th  or  8th  of  September.  So,  you  see,  it  will  not  l)e  po.s- 
sible  for  me  to  accept  of  your  very  kind  invitation.  The  pleasure  of  being 
with  you  is  one  of  the  greatest  pleasures  now  left  to  me.  But  I  must  forego 
it  to  grapple  with  stern  duty.     It  is  a  heavy  strain  ;  and  yet  I  must  bear  it. 

"  I  hope  the  fresh  sea  air  and  the  out-gush  of  warm,  loving  hearts  will  give 
you  renewed  strength,  and  be  under  GOJ)  the  means  of  prolonging  a  life  in 
which  the  comfort  and  enjoyment  of  so  many  are  centred.  I  <  )f  ten  think  <  if  you, 
and  only  wish  it  were  in  my  power  to  give  you  the  demonstration  of  the  love 
I  bear  you.  If  I  could  I  would  shield  you  from  the  many  vexing  cares  that 
oppress  you  ;  for  surely  one  who  so  considers  the  needs  of  others  ought  to 
have  only  sunshine  in  '  the  sere  and  yellow  leaf.'  And  yet  I  may  not  say 
this  ;  for  our  Father,  who  orders  all  the  events  of  life,  sees  that  the  discipline 
of  care  is  necessary  to  give  beauty  and  strength  to  the  graces  which  make 
up  the  .   .  .   .*  of  this  brief  pilgrimage. 

"  I  often  think  of  you  and  our  valued  friend,  Mrs.  Tayloe,  who,  like  your- 
self, is  ever  studying  the  hajipiness  of  others.  I  sometimes  feel  sorry  that 
the  mountains  of  Virginia  are  withoiit  the  ray  of  sunshine  your  presence 
gives,  and  that  the  cultured  group  gathered  there  are  denied  the  jjrivilege 
of  showing  how  much  affection  and  admiration  they  have  for  you.  But 
perhaps  it  is  best.  Hope  the  boys  are  well  and  that  they  will  continue  to 
grow  in  beauty  by  your  side.  They  are  very  fine  boys.  I  think  a  great 
future  is  before  them,  a  future  that  calls  for  the  granite  and  the  heart  of  oak. 
Knowledge  they  must  seek  to  ac(iuire,  anil  mental  discii)line  :  and.  what  is 
more,  they  must  seek  the  fear  of  GOD  and  the  love  of  GOD,  and  this  can 
(Uily  be  theirs  through  the  Cross  of  JESUS.  Lula,  I  hope,  is  well.  She 
reminds  me  of  the  pictures  I  have  seen  of  her  sainted  mother  :  and  the  thing 
she  should  most  desire  is  the  womanhood  so  happily  illustrated  in  her  grand- 
mother and  in  her  mother.  Give  my  love  to  them  all.  with  my  kiml  regards 
to  Miss  Eustis.  I  am  afraid  to  write  lest  I  weary  you  with  my  wretched 
handwriting,  and  yet  I  could  not  be  silent.     *     *     * 

"Affectionatelv, 

"  W.  W.  CoBcoEAN,  LL.  D.  ■  •  ^V.   1'." 

Bishop  Pinkney's  love  for  Mr.  Corcoran  was  both  strong  and 
tender ;  and   it   was    cordially   reciprocated.     The    letters    that 

*  Word  not  legible. 


262  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    TIXKNEY. 

passed  between  tlieui — very  numerous  on  tlie  part  of  the  Bishoi^- 
— were  full  of  the  warmest  expressions  of  their  mutual  love  and 
friendship.  Bishop  Pixkney  had  a  profound  veneration  for  Mr. 
Corcoran's  character  and  an  almost  unbounded  admu-ation  of  his 
noble  spuit  and  comprehensive  deeds  of  beneficence  ;  and  in  his 
letters  he  pours  forth  the  feelings  and  sympathies  of  his  soul  in 
the  most  glowing  language.  His  letters  to  Mr.  Corcoran  were 
highly  valued,  carefully  2:>reserved.  and  separately  tiled  in  a  beau- 
tiful album.*  In  the  volume,  "A  Grandfather's  Legacy,"  which 
Mr.  Corcoran  caused  to  be  compiled  before  his  death,  very  many 
of  the  Bishop's  letters  were  included.  Some  of  them  are  trans- 
ferred to  these  pages.  Always  at  the  close  of  each  year  and  the 
begmning  of  the  new  year,  interchange  of  letters  passed  between 
them,  often  containing,  on  Mr.  Corcoran's  j^art,  some  substantial 
token  of  his  affection,  as  the  following  letter  by  the  Bishop  shows  : 

••  January  1,  1879. 
"My  Dear  Mk.  Cokcoean  :  I  have  just  received  your  letter  and  the  box,  and 
when  I  looked  at  the  enclosure  and  read  the  check  for  ^.500,  made  payable 
to  me,  I  looked  to  see  if  there  was  any  direction,  for  I  could  scarcely  conceive 
it  was  meant  for  me.  To  say  that  I  feel  honored  by  yoiir  note  and  the 
presents  of  the  New  Year,  which  are  both  on  the  scale  of  yoiir  munificent 
bounty,  is  to  express  most  feebly  the  thanks  I  tender  you.  If  it  were  not 
for  your  own  handwriting  and  your  familiar  signature  to  the  check  and  the 
letter  I  shmild  even  now  think  it  was  a  dream.  It  has  been  in  my  power  to 
do  but  little  for  you,  and  yet  I  can  truly  say  that  I  have  done  what  I  could ; 
nothing,  however,  to  merit  any  such  token  of  your  love.  It  took  me  wholly 
by  surprise.  It  gratified  me  above  power  of  expression.  A  Hapjiv  New 
Year  to  you  and  yours  I  Your  life  is,  under  GOD,  of  priceless  value  to 
hundreds,  not  only  of  this  age,  biat  of  the  ages  to  come.  Bright  in  its  setting 
glories,  I  trust  it  may  be  far  from  the  setting.     Ever  devotedly, 

•'  Your  much  obliged  friend, 

"W.  P. 

''  Mrs.  Pinkney  desires  me  to  say  that  she  wishes  you  a  Hapi)y  New  Year. 
She  shares  vay  thanks.  Affectionately, 

"  W.  W.  Corcoran,  Esq.  '  W.  P." 

At  the  close  of  this  year,  1879,  the  Bishop  sent  the  following 
congratulatory  Christmas  letter : 

"  December  2.5,  1879. 

"  My  Dear  Mr.  Corcoran:  I  cannot,  amid  the  tender  memories  of  this 
holy  season,  forget  to  send  my  greetings  to  one  who  has  to  many  a  poor  babe 
given  of  his  jjlenty  in,  I  trust,  a  feeble  though  heartfelt  imitation  of  Him 
who,  '  though  He  was  rich  became  poor,'  and  from  the  cradle  in  Bethlehem 
revealed  the  saving  mystery  of  our  faith,  the  incarnation,  the  word  made 
flesh.  You  are  often  in  my  thoiights  and  on  my  heart.  May  the  light  of 
tliis  (Christmas  day  follow  your  evening  of  life  as  softly  as  the  dew  falls  on 
the  flower  I  We  read  that  there  was  '  no  room  for  Him  in  the  inn.'  Happy 
for  us  if  we  open  the  doors  of  our  souls  and  bid  Him  enter  I  A  happy 
Christmas  to  every  one  of  the  three  who  make  up  your  wealth  of  love  on 

*  All  of  the  Bishop's  letters  were  by  Mr.  Corcoran's  order  carefully  copied 
and  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  writer  for  iise  in  this  Memoir.  "With  deep 
emotion,  after  the  death  of  the  Bishop,  Mr.  Corcoran  said  to  the  writer,  "  Ah  1. 
you  will  never  have  again  such  a  man  for  your  Bishop  I" 


LIFE    OF    lUSIlol-    I'INKNKY.  '^tV.l 

earth.  I  trust  thry  will  contiinu'  toj^'mw  in  liciuUy  uii<l  iivtin-  by  your  In-urtli- 
stoue,  as  they  move  up  to  the  spheres  of  duty  that  \vi(h'ii  hefore  them,  and 
as  the  ,u">hlen  rays  of  their  iiioruiii-^'  of  life  are  hreakiii;,',  may  they  minulo 
sweetly  with  the  sunset  of  yours,  crowned  as  it  is  with  the  beauty  of  sympathy 
for  the  poor  and  friendless.  The  cross  meets  some  of  us  t(j-<lay  which  tho 
ant,'el  song  may  soothe  but  which  it  cannot  take  away. 

"  .Mlectiomitely, 
•  W.  W.  CoKCOitAN,  LL.  D.  \V.  I'.' 

In  August  of  the  next  year,  1880,  and  during-  the  same  month  of 
the  two  succeeding-  years  he  took  his  usual  rest  and  recreation  at 
the  ^\^lite  Sulphur  Springs  as  the  guest  of  his  valued  friend,  ^Ir. 
Corcoran,  to  whoni.  upon  his  retiirn  to  Washington,  he  was  wont 
to  address  letters  full  of  glowing  appreciation  of  Mr.  C.'s  gener- 
rosity  and  kindness.     Some  of  these  letters  are  here  given : 

•'August  25.  l«s(). 

'  •  My  Deak  Mr.  Cokcokan  :  I  reached  Washin^'ton  safely  this  moniiny,  about 
half  past  ei,(,dit  a.  m.  It  was  very  hot  iu  the  sleeping  apartment,  and  yet,  ou 
the  whole,  I  got  aloug  pretty  well.  I  was  very  sorry  to  see  yuu  at  so  late 
au  hour  last  evening  waiting  ou  me,  and  was  touched  by  it.  I  should  be  the 
hewer  of  wood  and  drawer  of  water,  not  you. 

'*  I  was  much  touched  with  George's  thoughtfulness.  He  has  a  very  wanu 
heart,  and  I  hope  it  will  always  beat  in  harmony  with  those  nol)le  impulses  that 
have  made  your  life  so  musical  and  true.  I  hope  they  will  Imth  live  to  till 
up  the  measure  of  your  brightest  hopes.  They  have  a  grand  type  of  a  true 
manhood  iu  the  springtime,  siimmer,  autumn,  and  winter  of  yf)ur  life,  aud 
now  that  they  see  the  bright  blending  of  the  crimson  and  gold  iu  the  sweet 
sunset,  I  hope  they  will  copy  after  the  beautiful  original.  Well,  I  nuist  say 
I  miss  you  all.  You  need  some  watchful  eye  near  you  to  stay  the  current  of 
your  too  busy  life. 

"  I  wish  I  could  continue  to  gaze  on  the  misty  mountain-top,  and  look  up 
into  the  deep  blue  of  the  sky,  and  draw  those  picturings  of  the  grand  aud 
the  beautiful  which  the  quiet  twilight  hottr  so  strangely  colors,  in  the  deep, 
strong  contrasts  which  the  parlor  below  so  strikingly  exhibits.  I  hope  our 
lady  friends  are  well. 

"  I  heard  news  to-day.  Speaking  of  Miss  L.  a  lady  said,  '  Oh  1  she  is  tlie 
one  who  wrote  the  verses  to  the  Dr.,  and  they  tell  me  she  is  engaged  to  the 
Rev.  Dr.  ,  of  Kichmond.' 

"  '  Well,'  I  said,  '  I  don't  know  about  that.  The  poetry  is  all  here,  but  as 
for  the  .   .   .   .*  part  of  the  picttire  I  am  sceptical.' 

••It  may  be  so,  V>ut  the  fair  E.  has  not  yet,  it  strikes  me,  scaled  themouu- 
tain-top  or  looked  out  on  the  promised  land  beyond.  I  do  hope  she  nnxy  find 
a  treasure  without  having  to  thread  so  dark  a  labyrinth,  for  I  know  no  one 
who  I  think  would  so  light  up  a  happy  home  if  she  finds  one  worthy  of  her 
love.  I  may  not  live  to  see  the  end  of  this  problem  she  has  to  solve,  for  she 
is  just  touching  the  land  of  golden  promise,  which  to  me  is  iu  the  far-oflf  dis- 
tance, which  I  may  not  hope  to  see.  I  hope  she  will  meet  it  in  the  glow  of 
a  golden  faith  and  shed  over  it  the  lustre  of  a  deep,  abiding  consciousness 
that  GOD  is  with  her  to  sweeten  life's  cares  and  to  lighten  its  troubles.  It 
is,  perhaps,  too  great  a  liberty  for  an  ac(piaintance  of  yesterday  to  take  to 
proffer  her  counsel,  but  still  as  it  is  the  future  blessedness  of  her  life  I  would 
fain  seek  to  secure,  she  will  not  spurn  the  prayer  that  the  mountains  and 
valleys  of  her  life  may  be  radiant  with  the  morning  glories,  and  feel  the 
touch  of  the  dew-drops  as  they  fall  silently  on  shrub  and  flower. 


*  Word  not  legible. 


264  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

"  But  I  must  not  trespass  longer  on  your  time  or  on  hers.  Kemember  me 
most  kindly  to  Miss  L.  and  herself.  The  keen  introspective  nature  of  the 
latter  admonishes  me  that  genius  is  a  gift  to  be  received  thankfully,  but  to 
be  watched  with  a  tearful  eye  fixed  ever  on  the  cross. 

' '  "Well,  it  has  been  a  source  of  great  jjleasure  to  me  to  share  your  hosijitality, 
and.  I  trust,  your  love.  My  own  term  of  days  is  near  the  sunset.  Sad 
memories  cluster  around  it.  I  seem  to  see  my  type  in  the  mountain  solitude, 
where  I  can  talk  to  the  trees  and  the  shadows,  and  feel  they  have  tongues  of 
sympathy  to  whisper  in  my  ears.  It  is  but  a  little  while.  It  is  only  when  I 
lr)ok  beyond  those  mountains,  far  up  into  the  deeji  blue  of  the  skies,  and 
realize  that  there  is  a  mountain  of  GOD.  fi-om  which  there  is  constantly 
streaming  down  on  His  people  rays  of  the  on-coming  glory,  that  I  feel  that 
the  mystery  that  shrouds  me  is  altogether  the  mystery  of  love.  But  I  find 
that  I  am  still  blessed  beyond  my  great  demerits,  and  am  thankful. 

"  Your  love  has  added  to  the  sum  of  the  joys  still  left  me. 

*' '  Cast  your  care  on  Him,'  who  tells  you  '  He  cares  for  you.'  This  is  the 
rock  on  which  vou  mav  rest  in  peace. 

'•  AfiFectiouately,  "\V.  P. 

"  W.  "SV.  CoECOEAX,  Esq." 

''Auqust  30,  1890. 

"  My  Dear  Me.  Coecoeax  :  I  thank  you  for  your  kind  attention  in  wTiting 
to  me  after  the  receipt  of  mine,  and  I  am  more  than  pleased  to  know  that 
you  miss  me.  and  that  any  one  at  the  Springs  regrets  my  leaving. 

"I  don't  know  that  I  ought  to  write  to  you  again  so  soon,  as  you  need 
rest,  but  then  my  letters  are  not  of  the  sort  to  give  you  perplexity.  I  often 
think  of  yovi  and  the  sweet  satisfaction  a  well-spent  life  is  giving  you. 

"  There,  in  the  mountains,  with  the  grandeur  enfolding  you,  you  can  gaze 
on  the  flowers  you  give  even  to  those  grand  solitudes  with  the  dew-drops  of 
your  love  as  they  sparkle  in  the  opening  petals.  Here,  in  the  '  Louise 
Home '  and  the  Art  Gallery  you  have  the  abiding  consolaticm  of  knowing 
that  you  too  are  wiping  the  tear-drojas  of  sorrow  from  weary  and  aching  eye- 
lids, and  in  the  alabaster  box  you  have  jjlaced  the  crowning  picture  in  the 
I'equisite  gi-oup. 

"  Don't  come  back  too  soon. 

"  I  wrote  a  letter  t(j  Miss  T.,  which  you  have  seen  ere  this.  It  was,  per- 
haps, a  dangerous  thing  to  do,  for  her  bright  intellect  might  well  cause  a 
more  exjaerienced  scribe  than  myself  to  pause  before  putting  pen  to  paper, 
and  yet  I  wanted  to  whisper  in  her  ear  a  word  or  two  of  fatherly  counsel.  I 
am  not  her  bishop,  it  is  true,  but  still  she  led  me  along  by  more  than  an  Appian 
Way  leading  to  the. magnificent  Bay  of  Naples,  a  road  of  her  own  construc- 
tion, laid  of  gold  and  sapphire  and  onyx,  thro'  a  region  of  mountain,  lake. 
and  rolling  rivers,  with  a  new  world  of  beauty,  where  the  flowers  grow  and 
the  spring.     *     *     * 

"  She  introduced  me  to  the  treasures  and  the  *  *  *  of  a  fairyland,  types 
of  a  true  humanity  with  those  marked  contrasts  which  the  deep  inner  world 
of  thought  and  feeling  exhibit. 

"  But  I  must  close.  I  saw  Dr.  Hunter  :  Mr.  Hyde  was  not  in.  The  room 
is  beautiful.    Don't  come  back  too  soon.     Love  to  the  boys  and  Lula,  and 

Miss and  Miss  L.     Hope  Mrs.  L.  is  better.     Tell  George  I  found  my 

diary. 

"  Affectionatelv.  W.  P." 


LIFE    OF    BlSllol'    I'lNKNKV.  'JC.'j 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Death    of    Bishop    Whittingham — The     Ei-iscoiwl    Luikakv.      Isyii  'kO. 

No  DECIDED  imin-ovement  m  Bishop  \\'liittiii;^li;iiiis  health  U>\- 
lowed  upon  his  removal  to  Orange,  New  Jersey,  alter  the  close  of 
the  Dioecsiin  Couveution  in  ]\Iay.  The  summer  mouths  j)assetl 
with  little  chauf.^-e  in  his  condition  :  at  times  able  to  see  ami 
converse  with  friends  (m  Church  matters  ;  at  other  times  too  feel)le 
and  exhausted  for  any  business  or  consultations.  After  months 
of  lingering  suffering  and  nervous  2:)r()stration,  with  occasional 
intervals  of  ease  and  repose,  the  soul  of  the  (h'parting  Bishoj) 
l^assed  to  its  longed-tVn-  rest.  Bisho})  AVhittingham,  the  fourth 
Bishop  of  Maryland,  died  on  the  17th  October,  187*.),  in  the  74th 
year  of  his  age  and  in  the  -lOth  year  of  his  Episcopate. 

Bishoj)  AVhittingham's  death,  though  not  unexpected,  produced 
a  profound  impression  throughout  the  diocese  and  in  the  General 
Church.  So  eminent  had  he  been  in  the  counsels  and  activities 
of  the  Church  during  the  years  that  preceded  his  elevation  to  the 
Episcopate,  and  still  more  so  in  those  nearly  forty  years  following 
it,  that  it  was  universally  recognized  and  felt  that  a  great  man 
had  passed  away. 

The  funeral  services  were  very  solemn  and  impressive.  The 
biographer  of  the  Bishop,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brand,*  thus  writes  : 

*  *  *  '' He  was  laid  beside  the  remains  of  his  father  and  mother  in 
Orange  Cemetery.  The  bnrial  was  of  the  siniph-st  charai-tev,  iu  aeoordauee 
with  his  wishes. 

'■  The  one  addition  to  the  service  for  the  burial  of  the  dead  was  very 
iniinessive.  The  vohime  of  voice  of  many  men  reciting,  as  earnest,  hopeful 
believers,  the  Nicene  creed,  gave  to  the  service  a  more  than  usual  note  of 
triumph.  To  and  from  St.  Mark's  Church  he  was  Ijorne  ou  a  bier  by  men, 
attended  by  the  Standing  Committee  of  Maryland  as  pall-bearers,  and  was 
followed  by  a  long  train  of  robed  bishops  and  siarpliced  clergy  from  his  own 
and  other  dioceses,  some  of  whom  had  come  fi'om  far,  and  by  very  many 
other  sorrowing  friends." 

Bishop  PiNKNEY  was  in  attendance  with  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee and  a  large  number  of  the  clergj'  and  laity  of  Maryland. 
It  is  stated  that  as  many  as  fourteen  bishops  and  one  hundred 
clergy  were  present. f 

A  few  days  after  these  funeral  solemnities,  Bisho})  Pinkney 
addressed  a  j^astoral  letter  to  the  clergy  and  laity  of  the  diocese, 
in  which,  after  paying  a  most   glowing  and  heartfelt    tribute   to 


*See  Dr.  Brand's  Life  of  Bishop  Whittingham,  vol.  ii,  p.  :J<">-'). 
tSee  Life  of  Bishop  Kerfoot  by  Eev.  Hale  Harriscm,  vol.  ii,  p.  ('.(U. 


266  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   PINKNEY. 

the  memory,  the  worth,  the  talents,  t^e  spiritual  character,  and 
the  holy  life  and  labors  of  his  predecessor  in  the  Episcopate,  he 
urges  ujion  all  the  solemn  calls  of  the  great  Head  of  the  Church 
to  increasing  faith  and  zeal  in  united  counsels  and  active  work. 
He  then  makes  most  touching  allusion  to  his  own  position  in  the 
grave  responsibilities  devolved  upon  him.     He  thus  wrote  : 

"Not  one  among  yon  feels  more  keenly  thau  I  do  the  bitterness  of  the 
cross  which  his  death  lays  on  us.  In  assuming  the  duties  of  the  higher 
jurisdiction  which  now  devolves  on  me.  I  would  beseech  you.  in  the  burning 
words  of  the  lion-hearted  Paiil,  •  Brethren,  pray  for  me,"  your  weaker 
brother.  I  need  your  prayers,  that  GOD  would  give  me  wisdom  and  pru- 
dence, and  loving'  sympathy  for  each  sheep  and  lamb  of  the  fold,  to  enable 
me  to  mingle  with  the  authority  I  exercise  the  meekness  and  fellow-feeling 
which  a  true  Bishop  should  ever  cultivate  and  exhibit. 

'•  I  throw  myself  on  your  forbearance.  I  look  to  you  for  sympathy  and 
support.  You  sought  me  out,  not  I  you.  I  shall  by  GOD'S  grace  strive  to 
deserve  it.  By  the  grave  of  our  reverend  father  in  GOD  many  of  us  stood 
a  few  days  ago.  It  was  a  sad  day  to  you  and  me.  It  appealed  to  our 
hopes  and  fears.  It  appealed  more  powerfitlly  to  me  thau  it  did  to  you,  for 
I  know  that  I  must  soon  lie  down  beside  him.  My  days  are  wellnigh 
numbered.  In  the  meanwhile  I  shall  ( GOD  being  my  helper)  work  on  as  I 
have  done  in  the  past,  to  the  fullest  extent  of  my  ability,  and,  if  need  be, 
beyond  it.     For  '  the  night  et)metli  when  no  man  can  work.' 

"  To  you  then  I  look,  under  GOD,  for  the  tilling  iip  of  my  many  deficien- 
cies, the  more  than  supply  of  my  lack  of  fitness  for  the  work  before  me." 

In  addition  to  this  solemn  and  official  expression  of  his  sense 
of  loss  and  increased  responsibility.  Bishop  Pinkney  in  an  in 
inemoi'iam  sermon,  twice  repeated,  gave  utterance  to  the  like 
sentiments  and  feelings. 

The  Standing  Committee  also  took  appropriate  action  by  pro- 
viding for  a  solemn  commemorative  service,  which  was  held  in 
St.  Paul's  Church,  Baltimore,  on  Tuesday,  December  2,  1879.  on 
which  occasion,  by  theu'  special  request,  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop 
Atkinson,  of  North  Carolina,  preached  the  memorial  sermon, 
afterwards  published. 

Memorial  action  also,  for  record  in  their  respective  minutes, 
was  taken  by  the  Standing  Committee,  by  the  Convention  of  the 
Diocese  at  its  ensuing  meeting  in  May,  1880,  and  by  the  Conven- 
tion of  the  Diocese  of  Easton. 

Thus  closed  the  hfe,  and  such  were  the  commemorative  pro- 
ceedings consequent  upon  the  death  of  the  fourth  Bishop  of 
Maryland,  whose  Episcopate  will  be  ever  memorable  in  the  annals 
of  the  diocese. 

These  references  to  Bishop  Whittingham's  Episcopate  would 
be  incomplete  without  some  record  in  this  place  of  that  noble 
benefaction  of  his  in  the  gift  of  his  valuable  library  to  the  Diocese 
of  Maryland. 

As  early  as  1871  the  trustees  of  the  Episcopal  fund,  in  theii" 
rei)ort  to  the  convention   of   that  year,  stated    that    they   had 


LIFE    OF    IIISHOI'    I'INKNKV.  1><;7 

••  received  a  coinmuiiii-dion  troiu  the  JJisliop,  to  tlic  clVcct  thut 
he  desired  to  apply  a  leyacv  which  he  liml  received  in  cre'ctiii;,'- 
ui)Oii  the  h)t  fornung-  i)art  of  the  Episcopal  residence  a  building,' 
to  be  used  forever  as  a  library  by  the  Bishop  of  the  diocese  and 
his  successors  :  that  he  also  meant  to  ^dve  and  convey  to  the 
convention,  to  be  held  and  administered  as  jiart  of  the  E])iscopal 
fund,  his  very  valuable  lil)rary,  consisting  of  about  1(),()()0  volumes, 
many  of  which  are  extremely  rare." 

The  convention,  by  a  unanimous  vote,  gave  consent  to  the  ])ro- 
posed  erection  of  a  building  for  the  library,  and  declare  that  they 
••gratefully  accept  the  Bishop's  proposed  donation  of  his  valuable 
librar}',  and  authorize  such  agreements  and  stipulations  as  may 
be  deemed  proper  to  be  entered  into  to  secure  the  use  of  such 
building  and  its  library  to  the  Bishop  of  Maryland  and  his  suc- 
cessors forever,  in  accordance  with  the  wishes  of  the  Bisliop  on 
the  subject."  * 

At  the  convention  of  the  diocese,  following  the  decease  of  the 
Bishop,  held  in  May,  1880.  a  statement  from  the  executors  of  the 
late  Bishop  was  presented  to  this  effect  that  "  the  bequest  of 
his  Aaluable  library,  which,  by  one  of  the  clauses  in  his  will, 
Bishop  Whittingham  has  made  to  the  convention,  is  confirmatory 
of  the  gift  which,  through  the  trustees  of  the  Episcopal  fund,  was 
announced  to  the  Convention  of  1871,  and  embraces  a  large 
number  of  volumes  added  by  him  .since  that  date."  Bisliop  Pixk- 
NEY,  in  his  address,  referred  to  this  1)e(juest  as  "  the  best  and 
enduring  monument"  of  the  Bishop,  and  recommended  that 
action  be  taken  for  "the  proper  care  of  the  library." 

The  committee  on  the  Episcopal  li])rary,  to  whom  these  matters 
were  referred,  thus  speak  in  their  report : 

•'  Of  the  greatness  of  the  gift  of  Bishop  Whittingham  in  bestowing  his 
vahiable  library  npon  the  Church  in  Maryhxnd,  it  is  not  easy  to  sjx'ak  in  any 
littiug  terms.  Ric-h  in  works  of  theohjgy,  history,  and  exegesis,  thi'  writings 
of  the  ancient  fathers,  the  dociiments  of  councils,  the  best  productions  of 
the  Anglican  divines,  and  Christian  letters  in  general,  this  library  is  u  col- 
lection almost  without  an  equal,  in  its  kind,  in  our  country.  Its  numerous 
maniiscripts  and  critical  annotations,  in  the  clear,  strong  hand  of  our 
dejjarted  BishoiJ,  are  a  worthy  legacy  in  themselves. 

"  The  value  of  the  library  to  this  diocese,  however,  is  not  to  be  measured 
l)y  its  contents  ahme.  The  purpose  of  its  formatinn,  and  the  partiality  of 
the  donor  in  placing  it  where  it  is,  added  greatly  to  the  estimation  in  which 
it  shall  be  held  by  us." 

The  committee  theii  proceed  to  recommend  certain  measures 
for  the  due  care  of  the  library,  and  the  appointment  of  a  suitaltle 
person  as  librarian;  all  which  was  favorably  acted  ui»on  liy  the 
convention. 

Forever  grateful  must  the  Chuicli  in  Maryland  be  to  Bisliop 

♦See  Journal  of  Convention,  1871,  pp.  121  and  Ki. 


268  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

"WTiittingLam  for  this  gift  of  his  library,  so  great  in  value  both 
for  its  intrinsic  worth  and  for  the  variety  and  scope  of  its  contents. 
It  is  proper  that  two  other  statements  should  be  here  introduced, 
the  one  to  the  effect  that  upon  Bishop  AVhittingiiam's  death  Bishop 
PiNKXEY  promptly  and  most  generously  placed  at  the  disposal  of 
the  family  the  Episcopal  residence  in  Baltimore.  In  response  to 
his  letter  formally  doing  so  he  received  from  the  eldest  daughter 
of  the  late  Bishop  a  letter  in  behalf  of  the  family,  expressive  of 
their  grateful  appreciation  of  the  kindness.  The  letter  of  Miss 
"NVhittiugham,  omitting  those  portions  "which  have  reference  to  the 
Episcopal  library,  its  care  and  management,  is  as  follows: 

"277  Madison  Ave..  Baltimore.  January  2d,  1880. 
"  My  Deae  Bishop  :  Your  exceedingly  kind  letter  was  received  this  morn- 
ing, for  wliicli  both  mother  and  I  thank  yon  heartily.  She  had  before  accejited 
your  kind  offer  of  the  house — but  not  formally,  nor  with  any  definite  under- 
standing. It  certainly  would  be  disastrous  to  us  in  many  ways  to  have  to 
remove  out  of  it  now :  in  fact,  you  can  understand  that  I  do  not  exaggerate 
when  I  say  we  fear  that  it  would  shorten  mother's  days.  So  we  are  glad  and 
grateful  to  accept  it  on  your  invitation. 

*  *'*  *  *  *.* 

"  The  holidays  have,  indeed,  been  sad  to  us  all :  and  yet  each  of  the 
Church's  festivals  brings  with  it  its  own  comfort  to  us  poor  mourners,  but 
the  new  year  makes  us  feel  that  the  time  of  our  separation  is  nJiort.  after  all. 
"  "With  many  thanks  for  your  words  of  loving  sympathy,  and  many  more 
for  your  acts  of  kindness  and  consideration,  and  with  mijther's  and  sister's 
warm  regards,  I  remain  , 

''  \ev\  gratefully  and  affectiouatelv  vours, 

"  MAHGAEET  H.  WHITTINGHAM. 

"  Bishop  PiNKNEY." 

The  other  statement  referred  to  is,  that  the  trustees  of  the 
Episcopal  fnnd  generously  continued  to  the  family  the  salary  of 
the  late  Bishop  to  the  autumn  of  the  year  following  his  death  ; 
and,  by  resolution  of  the  Convention  of  1880  *  it  was  unanimously 
ordered  as  follows  : 

^ '  Jiexolved ,  That  the  trui^tees  of  the  Episcopal  fund  be,  and  they  are  hereby, 
directed  to  make  such  provision  for  the  support  of  the  family  of  the  late 
Bishop  as  they,  in  their  judgment,  may  deem  proper;  and  that  they  report 
their  action  to  the  next  convention,  w'ith  any  suggestions  which  may  occur 
to  them  upon  the  subject. 

^'lienolced.  That  for  the  carrying  out  of  the  above  resolution  the  treasurer 
of  the  convention  be,  and  he  is  hereby,  directed  to  pay  to  the  said  timnt^es 
such  sum  or  sums  as  they  may  require." 

Acting  under  this  authority,  the  trustees  of  the  Episcopal  fund 
appropriated  $2,000  a  year  for  Mrs.  Whittingham's  benefit,  and 
continued  to  j^ay  the  same  up  to  the  time  of  her  death,  in  18 — . 

As  frequent  reference  in  this  Memoir  is  made  to  the  close  inti- 
macy which  existed  between  Bishop  Pixkney  and  the  Hon.  S.  H. 
Huntington  while  he  was  the  rector  of  the  Clutrch  of  the  Ascen- 


See  Journal,  pp.  0'.»  and  70. 


LIFE    OF    ]!ISH()1'    I'INKNKV.  -JC'J 

sion,  in  AVjisliiiinfon.  hiiiI  aftfrwjii-ds  iliiiiii;;-  his  l-]j)iscnjiiiti',  tin- 
memoriiil  notice  of  the  death  of  that  valued  layman,  as  ^'iven  in 
the  Episi-opal  address  of  1H80,  is  here  introduced.  Th«'  Bislioj) 
felt  that  it  was  no  obtrusion  of  a  personal  l)ereavenient  upon  the 
convention  of  tlie  diocese,  when  the  death  was  that  of  one  whose 
character  had  been  marked  with  distinguished  virtues  and  whose 
life  had  been  devoted  to  high  usefulness  in  the  Church.  In  his 
sympathetic  nature  he  mingled  his  tears  with  the  sorrows  of  many 
others  over  the  death  of  the  righteous.  He  thus  gives  very  fullV 
his  estimate  of  Judge  Huntington  : 

"I  may  not  pass  over  in  silence  one,  though  for  years  a  blessing  to  the 
Diocese  of  Connecticnt.  and  a  resident  of  Hartford,  where  he  wove  so  sweet 
a  sj)ell  over  the  Church  work  in  which  he  there  engaged,  was  for  years  con- 
nected with  my  work  in  Washington,  the  Hon.  Samuel  H.  Huntington.  He 
saw  the  difficulty  of  the  task  consigned  to  me  in  the  endeavor  to  rekindle 
the  light  that  had  nearly  gone  out  on  the  altar  :  and  he  came  to  my  succor, 
and  soothed  and  sustained  me  in  it,  with  a  warmth  of  sym))athy  which  few 
men  could  j)roft'er.  A  braver,  truer  man,  a  man  of  better  judgment,  or  of 
sounder  sense  I  never  met  with.  He  was  well  informed  on  all  subjects, 
singularly  clear  in  his  conceptions  of  a  subject,  and  as  singularly  gifted 
with  the  power  to  give  expression  to  his  views  when  the  occasion  reipiired. 
I  found  him  always  a  friend  in  need.  He  had  been  on  the  most  intimate 
terms  with  the  lamented  Bishop  Burgess,  and  he  had  improved  his  oppor- 
tunity. He  i^artieularly  admired  him  as  a  jiastor,  and  often  alluded  ti:>  his 
vast  erudition.  He  had  known  in  early  years  that  marvellous  sou  of  genius, 
the  elder  Doane.  the  ehxjuent  divine,  the  decj)  thinker,  the  poet,  and  the 
Bishop.  It  was  in  such  a  school  he  imbil)ed  his  thecilogieal  views,  and  they 
were  sound  and  deep.  He  was  a  strong  churchman,  and  yet  there  was  not 
a  tinge  of  the  exclusive  in  his  cast  of  mind  or  heart.  His  piety  was  singu- 
larly earnest.  It  was  that  meek  sort  of  piety,  which  reflected  the  child-like 
in  its  implicit  trust.  There  was  not  a  trace  of  self-assumption  in  him.  And 
yet  no  man  was  more  deeply  impressed  with  the  dignity  of  our  manhood  in 
CHRIST,  or  more  bold  to  stand  up  in  defence  of  wliat  he  conscientiously 
held.  My  loss  is  irreparable.  The  Church's  loss  is  not  more  easily  rejiaireil. 
In  the  general  convention  he  served  with  tlistinction  ;  but  it  was  in  tin- 
parish  that  his  strong,  practical,  common  sense,  his  extraor<linary  taet,  liis 
earnest  zeal,  and  broad,  dee|)  sympathy  shone  out  with  i)eculiar  sj)lendor. 
Our  hearts  were  not  divided — never  a  jar  disturbed  the  sweet  serenity 
of  our  intercotirse.  He  was  everything  to  me  during  the  larger  portion  of 
my  work  in  Washington.  So  conliding,  so  generous,  so  just  and  elevated 
in  thoTight  and  deed.  Most  of  the  little  good  I  was  (pialilied  to  do  was  the 
ins])iration  of  his  counsel  and  example.  ,\nd  when  I  was  called  to  the 
Episcoi)ate,  the  greatest  grief  I  sustained  was  the  removal  from  his  nearer 
relationship  to  me  in  the  pastorate  of  the  Church.  After  his  removal,  one 
of  my  greatest  delights  was  a  visit  to  his  quiet  home,  and  his  letters.  If  I 
seem  to  you  to  write  too  strongly,  it  was  because  you  did  not  know  the 
man.  My  brothers,  we  are  adding  new  stars  to  the  galaxy  of  departed 
workers.     Day  by  day  let  us  all  work,  and  fast,  and  pray." 


:270  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   PINKNEY. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

Ritualism  in  Maeylaxd  axd  the  Contests  Growing  out  of  It.     1879-'80. 

Bishop  Pinkxey  very  deeply  realized  the  responsibilities  that 
devolved  vipon  him  by  the  death  of  Bishop  AYhittiiigham.  They 
came  upon  him  at  an  age  when  men  naturally  desire  and  seek  relief 
from  increased  official  anxieties  and  duties.  For  the  nhie  preced- 
ing years  of  his  Ejiiscopate  the  sole  jurisdiction  had  been  held  and 
exercised  by  the  senior  Bishop.  It  was  only  at  times  and  in  some 
special  instances  that  such  jurisdiction  was  committed  to  him  by 
Bishop  AVhittingham.  His  whole  time  and  thoughts  and  labors 
had  been  necessarily  given  to  that  practical  work  of  supervision 
and  visitation  for  which  the  senior  Bishop,  by  reason  of  his  physi- 
cal infirmities,  was  inadequate.  He  encountered,  as  will  be  seen, 
peculiar  difficulties  and  trials  in  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties 
when  the  sole  jurisdiction  of  the  diocese  devolved  on,  him.  He 
could  not  but  see  before  the  late  Bishop's  death  that  there  were 
grounds  for  uneasiness  touching  the  future  peace  of  the  Church 
in  Maryland. 

The  ritualistic  controversy  which  had  given  such  trouble  to 
Bishop  A\Tiittingham  became  more  aggravated  and  disturbing 
under  Bishop  Pixkney's  sole  administration.  It  calls,  therefore, 
for  some  full  account  of  it,  as  it  agitated  the  Church  in  Maryland 
for  the  few  remaining  years  of  Bishop  Pixkney's  Episcoj^ate  and 
forced  him  at  times  into  more  or  less  of  conflict  with  it. 

For  more  than  a  full  decade  dissensions  and  controversies 
growing  out  of  the  ritualistic  movement  had  been  mcreasuig 
throughout  the  Church.  In  successive  general  conventions  meas- 
ures were  introduced  and  adopted  to  stay  its  progress,  and  pas- 
toral letters  from  the  House  of  Bishops  were  issued  to  counteract 
the  dangerous  tendencies  of  the  extreme  school  or  party. 

It  Avas  not  a  question,  within  the  prescribed  limits  of  the  prayer 
book  and  the  canons,  of  emphasizing  more  or  less  the  ornate,  the 
beautiful,  and  the  reverential  in  the  conduct  of  the  DiAine  ser- 
vices. Under  the  increased  culture  of  the  age  and  the  growth  of 
an  aesthetic  taste  for  things  beautiful  and  ornate,  there  had  been 
developed  an  earnest  desu-e  for  improvements  in  the  structure 
and  adornments  of  the  chiu'ches,  for  more  ecclesiastical  aiTange- 
ments  in  the  chancels,  and  for  fuller  exjDression  of  the  beauty, 
order,  and  impressiveness  of  the  pul)lic  worship.  In  these  respects 
considerable  improvements  had  taken  place  throughout  the  Chui'ch, 
and,  being  the  outgrowth  of  a  general  culture  and  of  loyal  adhe- 


LIFE    OF    BiSIlol'    I'INKNEY.  *J71 

rence  to  the  liturgic  services  as  jircsciilxd  in   tlic  jtiayiT  1 k, 

attracted  little  attention  and  caused  uo  opposition. 

But  the  ritualism  that  was  growing  up  in  the  Chunh,  and  cauK- 
iug-  both  alarm  and  trouble,  went  far  bej'ond  the  pra^'er-book  pro- 
visions and  limitations  for  the  pul)lic  services.  It  was  a  ritualisui 
which  an  extreme  school  of  the  clergy,  under  the  specious  claims 
of  a  catholicity  that  was  only  another  name  for  medi;f■^•alism,  had 
introduced  into  the  Divine  worship  and  sacred  ministi-ations, 
especially  in  the  office  for  the  celebration  of  the  holy  commun- 
ion :  and  which  consisted  in  new  forms,  strange  vestments,  unrec- 
ognized usages,  frequent  bowings  and  crossings,  candles  on  the 
altar,  incense  in  the  worship,  wafers  for  the  Ijread,  a  mixed  chalice, 
and  the  lifting  up  of  the  consecrated  elements  as  objects  of  adora- 
tion.* Along  with  these  practices,  and  growing  out  of  them, 
were  prayers  for  the  dead,  private  confessions,  jn'ivate  al)solu- 
tions,  solitary  celebrations,  with  non-communicating  attendance, 
and  the  reservation  of  the  consecrated  elements. 

All  these  innovations  were  not  at  once  introduced  into  the  so- 
called  ritualistic  churches,  but  there  was  a  steadj'  advance  in  that 
direction,  and  the  teachings  were  so  manifestly  towards  their 
adoption  that  there  was  just  and  well-grounded  apprehension 
that  under  the  ritualistic  observances  there  was  the  jjurpose  to 
inculcate  what  is  called  the  "  doctrine  of  the  mass,"  which  imolved 
the  transubstantiation  of  the  sacred  elements  and  the  repetition, 
by  the  act  and  invocation  of  the  officiating  priest,  of  the  one  sac- 
rifice of  CHRIST  once  for  all  ofiered  up  on  the  cross. 

It  would  be  manifestly  improper  to  enter  here  upon  a  discus- 
sion of  the  ritualistic  controversy  in  exteuso  ;  but  the  leaders  of 
that  school  would  certainly  not  disclaim  the  holding  of  doctiines 
touching-  the  sacraments  and  the  functions  and  powers  of  the 
priesthood,  not  to  mention  others,  which  Avere  not  hekl  by  the 
Church  at  large,  and  which  to  say  the  least  were  considered  as 
condemned  in  the  articles  and  by  the  vast  majority  of  Anglican 
and  American  divines.  Neither  is  it  any  distortion  of  historic 
truth  to  describe  recent  ritualism  as  an  attempt  to  procure  popular 
acceptance  for  these  doctrines  l>y  progressive  alterations  in  rites 
and  ceremonies.  It  was  the  uuthod  of  "  Tract  No.  90  "  appUed  to 
the  liturgy  wherever  any  ambiguity,  omission,  or  uncertainty  of 
rubrical  language  j^ermitted  any  license  of  interpretation.  It 
tended  to  prepare  the  minds  of  the  people  to  receive,  and  opened 
the  way  for  their  teachers  to  inculcate,  media'val  dogmas  which 
the  Church  at  the  Reformation  had  expressly  disavowed  and  had 
evidently  striven  wholly  to  exi^unge  from  her  standards  of  belief 
and  from  her  liturgy. 

It  is  this  dogmatic  significance  of  the  changes  in  ceremonial 


*  Very  nice  distinctions  were  made  to  tlie  effect  that  the  worship  was  wor- 
.ship  of  CHRIST,  present  in  and  imder  the  forms  of  bread  and  wine. 


272  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    FINKNEY. 

wliicli  distinguishes  ritvialism  jiroper  from  the  ianoeent  rituahsm. 
which  sought  rnerelj^  to  give  increased  beauty  and  impressiveness 
to  the  Divine  ser^•ices.  This  also  created  that  pecuhar  difficulty 
which  both  Bishops  and  the  general  convention  have  experienced 
in  enforcing  ecclesiastical  discipline  in  all  such  cases.  ^Mien 
erroneous  doctrines  are  categorically  set  forth  and  oj^enly  de- 
fended they  may  be  met  by  argument  and  the  teachers  forbidden 
by  authority.  But  when  dogma  is  insinuated  by  means  of  sig- 
niticant  rites  and  ceremonies  the  whole  question  of  rehgious 
symbolism  is  raised,  and  it  becomes  necessary  to  define  and  prove 
the  meaning  and  motive  of  a  teacher  from  external  acts  and 
gestiu-es — a  matter  always  of  extreme  difficulty,  for  the  offending 
rite  may  be  continued  while  its  significance  is  denied  or  left 
doubtful.  Under  such  circumstances  the  authority  of  Bishops 
may  be  set  at  naught  and  the  most  explicit  canons  i^ractically 
nullified.* 

Although  there  were  few  of  the  clergy  and  congregations  in 
Maryland  disposed  to  be  extreme  and  aggressive  in  ritualism,  the 
effect  was  to  create  in  the  minds  of  very  many  throughout  the 
diocese  a  feehng  of  great  uneasiness,  and  to  rouse  up  on  the  part 
of  some  a  spirit  of  intense  opposition.  This  had  been  apparent 
all  along  during  the  later  administration  of  Bishop  AMiittingham, 
who  sought  as  far  as  he  could,  without  resortuig  to  harsh  meas- 
ures, to  rej^ress  its  encroachments  upon  the  doctrinal  standards 
of  the  Church  and  the  recognized  usages,  forms,  and  ceremonies 
in  the  Di^•ine  services  as  regulated  hj  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer. 
Bishop  PiNKNEY  was  even  more  sensitive  than  his  predecessor  to 
the  dangers  thence  arising  to  the  peace  and  welfare  of  the  Church. 
He  was  entirely  satisfied  Avith  the  prayer  book  as  it  is  and  depre- 
cated any  departure  from  its  rubrical  directions,  or  the  introduction 
of  any  forms  or  rites  not  therein  prescribed.  He  did  not  even 
sympathize  with  the  work  of  prayer-book  revision  originated  in 
the  General  Convention  of  1880  and  subsequently  carried  on  in 
the  two  successive  general  conventions.  The  service  of  the 
Church  in  its  simplicity  and  grandeur  required,  he  thought,  no 
supplementary  or  adventitious  additions  to  impart  to  it  all  due 
solemnity,  or  give  to  it  a  spectacular  character.  He  felt  its 
beauty  and  power  when  rendered  in  the  plainest  wooden  Church 
buildings,  with  only  two  or  thi'ee  worshippers,  as  impressively 
as  when  offered  with  an  ornate  ceremonial  in  costly  church 
structures  with  their  crowded  congregations.  His  innate  sense 
of  the  beautiful  and  his  reverential  feelings  led  him  to  appre- 


*  A  noted  instance  in  Bishop  Wliittingham's  experience  of  the  determined 
spirit  with  which  when  on  one  occasion  of  visitation  to  one  of  the  ritual- 
istic Churches  of  his  diocese  his  wishes,  remonstrances,  and  opposition  were 
disregarded,  is  given  on  page  51G  of  the  Life  of  Bishop  Kerfoot  by  the  Rev. 
Hale  Harrison. 


LIFE    OF    I'.ISHOl'    I'INKNKV.  2t.i 

date  all  that  touclu'd  the  solcnnhtifs  (jf  Divine  worsliip.  JJut 
he  Relieved  that  under  the  constitution  of  our  Aniericiin  Niitioniil 
Church  there  was  no  authority  to  go  beyond  the  settled  jno- 
visions  in  her  orpuiization  to  any  foreign  ecclesiastical  liody, 
however  closely  allied  by  descent  or  interconniiiinion  in  the  one 
faith  and  order  of  the  Church  catholic,  for  regulations  as  of  any 
binding-  or  allowable  force  in  the  sacred  ministrations  of  her 
Divine  worship.  He  l)elieved  that  the  autonomy  of  the  American 
Church  precluded  the  introduction  of  any  rites  or  symbols  not 
specifically  authorized  by  her  standards  and  canons,  ^[u(•h  stress 
was  laid  upon  what  was  termed  **  Catholic  usage, ""  than  which 
nothing  could  be  more  indefinite  and  indeterminative,  and  which 
even  if  clearly  ascertainal)le  could  have  no  place  or  authoritj'' 
against,  or  supplementary  to,  those  positive  enactments  and  decla- 
rations by  the  Church  as  to  the  order  of  the  public  services.  For 
it  is  clear  that  under  such  broad  plea  not  only  usages  harmless 
in  themselves  and  even  tending  to  edification  and  impressiveness 
might  be  introduced,  but  under  the  same  plea  the  whole  settled 
order  of  the  Church  in  the  sacred  ministrations  could  be  jierverted 
to  ends  and  purposes  wholly  at  variance  with  her  standards  and 
with  what  the  Church  had  settled  for  herself  as  ''the  American 
use." 

Bishop  PiXK\EY,  therefore,  regarded  the  whole  ritualistic  move- 
ment as  an  innovation  dangerous  in  its  tendencies  ajid  fraught 
with  results  that  would  prove  disastrous  to  the  unity  and  i»rog- 
ress  of  the  Church.  While  he  fvilly  recognized  the  earnestness, 
devotion,  and  active  zeal  of  those  who  were  introducing  an 
extreme  ritualism  in  the  public  worship  and  in  the  parochial  min- 
istrations, he  determined  to  meet  his  own  duty  and  responsibility 
as  Bishop  without  trenching  upon  the  freedom  and  rights  of  the 
clergy,  or  transcending  in  any  degree  the  just  exercise  of  his 
Episcopal  authority. 

Much  of  the  trouble  that  unavoidalily  agitated  the  Church  in 
the  diocese  for  the  next  few  years  after  Bishop  Whittingham's 
decease  grew  out  of  this  disturbing  element  of  ritualism. 

The  moderate  High  Churchmen,  without  abandoning  theii- 
Church  principles,  and  the  Low  Churchmen,  without  relinquishing 
their  evangelic  views,  unitedly  resolved  to  oi)pose,  as  far  as  they 
lawfully  could,  teachings  and  pi-actices  that  tended  to  undermine 
the  true  Protestant  character  of  the  Chureli  and  bring  into  the 
public  worship  and  administrations  rites  and  services  at  variance 
with  the  provisions  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer.  These  could 
not  have  acted  otherwise  without  failmg  in  the  discharge  of  theu- 
duty  to  the  Church,  which  had  commissioned  them  to  teach  its 
doctrine  and  defend  it  from  the  encroachments  of  error.  The 
responsibility  for  any  dissension  must  rest  with  those  who  sought 
to  deviate  from  the  faith  and  practices  of  the  Church  as  the  same 


274  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   PINKNEY. 

had  been  settled  and  autlioritatively  set  forth  in  her  standards 
and  hturgy  from  the  period  of  her  organization  in  this  land. 

But  there  were  also  those,  High  Churchmen,  professing  not  to 
be  ritualists,  who  yet  did  so  far  sympathize  with  the  ritualistic 
movement  that  they  were  averse  to  any  interference  with  it.  They 
claimed  that  the  largest  scope  of  freedom  should  be  allowed  so 
long  as  positive  law  was  not  violated  and  no  judicial  tribunal  had 
acted  upon  the  questions  at  issue.  Hence  they  were  not  agitated 
with  any  fears  as  to  the  outcome  of  rituahsm  upon  the  faith  and 
order  of  the  Church,  and  so  accorded  to  the  ritualists  a  certain 
countenance  and  sujjport. 

New  party  lines  thus  became  distinctly  marked.  Unhappily 
there  were  not  wanting,  soon  after  Bishop  Pinkney's  entrance 
upon  sole  jurisdiction  in  the  diocese,  causes  and  occasions  for 
very  painful  and  bitter  conflicts.  Naturally,  in  those  contests, 
some  of  the  clergy  on  both  sides  became  more  prominent  than 
others,  and  found  themselves  in  positions  that  rendered  them 
more  or  less  liable  to  misajiprehension  and  misconstruction  both 
as  to  their  motives  and  theii*  actions. 

Such  is  human  nature,  even  under  the  sanctifying  influences  of 
Divine  grace,  that  good  men  in  times  of  excitement  and  under 
convictions  as  to  great  issues  at  stake,  will  give  way  to  feelings 
and  give  utterance  to  words  not  in  unison  with  the  sweet  and 
charitable  fruits  of  the  spu'it  of  mutual  love  in  the  Gospel.  It  is 
well  in  the  life  of  the  Church  as  in  that  of  the  individual  that 
much  in  the  past  should  be  forgotten  when  it  leaves  behind  the 
salutary  lessons  of  moderation,  wisdom,  and  charity.  AVhile  this 
is  so,  it  is  due  to  the  facts  of  history  and  to  the  character  and 
course  of  Bishop  Pixkxey,  to  recur  as  briefly  as  possible  to  those 
diocesan  troubles  that  arose  soon  after  the  decease  of  Bishoj? 
Whittingham,  and  which  continued  for  several  successive  years 
to  agitate  the  convention  of  the  diocese.  As  Bishop  of  the 
diocese  and  president  of  the  convention.  Bishop  Pixkxey  was 
necessarily  connected  with  them  to  some  extent. 

During  the  administration  of  Bishop  Whittingham  the  Assist- 
ant Bishop  was  not  brought  into  conflict  with  any  of  the  clergy 
whose  course  touching  matters  of  ritual  was  attracting  attention 
and  causing  so  much  disturl^ance  in  the  Church.  The  cognizance 
of  these  came  specially  within  the  province  of  the  senior  Bishop, 
who,  with  all  his  commanding  force  and  influence  in  Church  mat- 
ters, was  finding  that  he  had  persons  and  elements  to  deal  with 
not  easily  controlled  by  his  sui)erior  wisdom,  his  godly  counsels, 
and  his  paternal  authority.  This  was  markedly  and  painfully 
evidenced  in  certain  occurrences  that  took  place  in  Mt.  Calvary 
Church,  Baltimore,  specially  in  the  years  1874  and  1875,*  when 

*  For  very  full  and  clear  statement  of  these  difficulties  in  the  matter  of  Mt. 
Calvary  Church,  see  Dr.  Brand's  Life  of  Bishop  "Whittingham,  vol.  ii,  chap, 
vii. 


LIFE    or    lilSllOl'    riNKNKV.  -JT.") 

the  Bisliop  Avas  foicoil  to  intfiposf  his  J^piscoitjil  iidiiioiiitioiis  for 
the  vindiciition  of  the  doctriiies  of  the  Cliurch,  for  obcdiciii-f  to 
the  eanouical  requirements,  and  for  conformity  to  "the  usaj^'c  of 
the  diocese."  In  which  cases  he  hesitated  not  to  express  liis  stron^^' 
and  emjihatic  disapproval  of  forms,  usages,  and  teacliin;(s  which, 
in  his  jndonient,  he  deemed  "  contrary  to  the  mind  and  intent  of 
the  Church  and  fraught  with  (hin^ei-ous  conse(pH'nces." 

"While  acting  as  the  assistant.  Bishop  PiNKXEvin  some  instances 
of  his  visitations  made  it  matter  of  request  that  no  arrangements 
of  ritual  should  be  made  that  contravened  the  usages,  rnbrics.  and 
canons  of  the  Church  touching  the  order  of  the  ])ul)lic  worship  : 
and  he  Avas  accoixlingly  relieved  of  any  embarrassments  on  such 
occasi(ms. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  following  letters  that  Bishop  Bixknev 
liad  very  decided  views  regarding  the  ritualistic  movement,  and 
was  clear  in  his  conviction  that  the  course  of  the  ritualists  called 
for  some  positive  legislative  action  by  the  General  Church. 

In  his  letter  to  Judge  Huntington,  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  he  states 
very  strongly  what  he  thought  about  the  matter : 

"  August  12,  1874. 

"  My  Dear  Judge  :  I  write  because  I  am  fearful  that  in  my  iiudated  letter 
I  omitted  to  state  the  Friday  nit^lit  I  expected  to  be  with  you.  It  is  the 
Ifith  Sunday,  the  18th,  yoii  can  make  any  api)ointnient  for  nw  you  phrase: 
at  the  college  in  the  afternoon,  if  you  think  best.  I  would  j^rcatly  jjn^fer 
being  a  listener.  I  think  you  are  mistaken  about  live  letters  being  left  by 
me  unanswered.  There  was  one.  and  but  one.  I  often  desist  from  writing 
because  I  do  not  like  to  give  my  friends  troi;ble.  and  my  handwriting  is  not 
calculated  to  improve  temper. 

"  I  am  compelled  to  dissent  from  you  in  one  point.  I  think  great, 
immense  evil  will  result  from  the  do-nothing  ])olicy.  I  have  watched  the 
movements  of  this  school  of  thought  very  closely,  and  never  in  all  history 
do  I  remember  a  class  who  have  evinced  more  of  dogmatism  and  persistency. 
They  pay  no  sort  of  respect  to  the  expression  of  the  views  of  the  whole 
House  of  Bishops,  or  the  godly  counsels  of  their  own  (diocesan).  Dr.  D., 
one  of  the  leaders,  avows  that  we  must  be  allowed  to  go  in  search  of  some- 
thing older  than  the  prayer  book,  even  to  the  verge  of  mediaeval  error,  and_ 
warns  us  that  we  do  not  confound  Anglican  with  Gospel  truth.  Dr.  DeK. 
itses  language  concerning  the  Eucharist  indentical  with  that  which  Jeremy 
Taylor  ascribes  to  the  Romanists,  and  goes  into  the  cure  of  another  to 
administer  jirivate  confession  and  absolution  without  hesitation.  I  think 
Bishop  Hiintington,  of  all  the  Bishops,  has  given  the  clearest  exposition  of 
this  school,  and  I  thank  CiOD  for  it.  It  is  expressed  with  that  nervous 
eloquence  and  precision  that  mark  all  his  produt  lions,  and  it  is  not  daubed 
with  untempered  mortar,  or  neutralized  by  a  false  and  squeamish  charity. 
I  as  heartily  concur  with  the  no  less  eloquent  language  used  by  Bishop 
Wells,  where  he  says,  'if  I  can  read  the  English  tongue  with  any  compre- 
hension of  its  meaning,  the  purpose  is  avowed  to  teach  the  real  doctrine  of 
the  mass,  and  to  bring  back,  as  far  as  may  be  done,  the  entire  ceremonial 
of  the  mediaeval  mass,  finally  and  deliberately  dropped  from  our  prayer 
book  at  the  Reformation.'  He  echoes  my  own  thoughts  and  deep  convic- 
tions. I  as  fully  endorse  his  wise  injunction  that  '  calm  and  careful  dis. 
crimination  is  needed.'     With  this  school  can  we  fold  our  hands  upon  our 


276  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

bosoms  and  say  that  the  best  thing  we  can  do  is  to  do  nothing  ?  These 
things  grow,  my  dear  Judge,  and  they  grow  rapidly.  They  jiossess  certain 
elements  of  power  that  may  not  be  overlooked.  Novelties  attract.  They 
are,  so  far  as  our  poor,  fallen  nature  is  concerned,  even  more  jjowerful  than 
truth,  seeing  they  are  more  in  harmony  with  it.  Men  of  one  idea  are  ever 
to  be  watched  and  dreaded.  Diffusion  weakens  :  combination  and  concen- 
tration strengthen.  Besides,  the  appeal  to  the  senses  is  fascinating  to  the 
young.  The  placing  of  something  between  GOD  and  the  conscience  is 
taking  with  the  populace  precisely  as  we  see  it  developed  in  the  Church  of 
Kome.  Now  has  the  Church  authority  to  gtiard  and  defenil  the  faith  once 
delivered?  If  so,  can  she  fail  h(mestly  to  use  it  ?  It  may  be  said  the  power 
is  in  the  ordinary  ;  but  scores  of  us  are  here  to  witness  that  the  power  is 
not  executed  even  to  the  degree  it  exists.  I  am  for  law  because  I  believe 
that  law  is  the  only  safeguard  of  freedom.  No  man  should  be  allowed  to 
subvert  the  faith  of  the  Chtirch,  to  seek  or  labor  to  bring  back  a  system  of 
error  we  solemnly  discarded  as  false  and  fatal.  The  wide  Mediterranean  of 
Episcopal  powers  has  been  bridged  over  by  canon,  and  we  prefer  to  stand 
upon  law.  I  am  surprised  that  one  of  your  singular  powers  of  penetration 
and  wise  forethought  could  have  reached  the  conclusion  that  the  best  thing 
to  be  done  is  to  do  nothing.  I  know  you  are  pre-eminently  wise — almost 
always  right  in  your  premises  and  conclusions — that  you  think  deeply  with 
logical  force :  but  I  must  differ  from  you. 

'*  I  regret  that  you  are  not  in  the  convention,  not-withstanding.  For  I  feel 
almost  sure  that  if  you  were  a  delegate  we  should  not  be  wide  apart  in  the 
final  action.  I  fully  concede  that  the  sul)ject  is  one  of  great  difficulty  and 
delicacy,  on  which  legislation  must  move  with  extremest  caution.  But  rest 
assured,  a  stop  must  be  put  to  the  agitation.  The  Protestantism  of  the 
Church  must  be  vindicated  and  maintained.  The  effort  to  throw  her  back 
with  the  darkness  of  the  middle  ages  must  be  resisted.  I  write  to  you  as  I 
do  to  no  one  else,  fully,  freely,  and  currente  calamo. 

"  I  have  jtist  written  what  I  propose  to  use  as  a  charge  to  convocation — 
the  convocation  of  Washington.  If  it  is  not  used  before  I  reach  Hartford 
I  shall  like  to  have  your  ojiiuion.  It  is  a  subject  of  great  practical  imjjor- 
tance.  I  wrote  an  article  on  the  crisis  which  Judge  Sheffey  and  one  or  two 
other  friends  thought  most  admh'ably  suited  to  the  times  :  but  they  agreed 
with  me  that  it  would  be  more  delicate  to  keep  silence  and  abide  the  coming 
events.     An  Assistant  Bishop  is  an  anomaly. 

"  Love  to  all.  I  hope  Mrs.  H.  and  the  girls  are  well,  and  the  little  grandson 
as  original  as  ever.  How  I  miss  yovi — more  and  more — still  more  and  more, 
in  counsel,  in  social  converse,  always,  everywhere.  Mrs.  P.  sends  her  love, 
and  so  does  Mr.  L.  Yours  affeetionatelv, 

"Judge  S.  H.  Huntington.  '    W.  PINKNEY." 

In  a  letter  somewhat  later  addressed  to  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop 
Coxe,  of  AVesteru  New  York,  Bishop  Pinkney  expresses  the  same 
views.  It  is  not  certainly  known  that  the  letter  was  sent.  In  it 
he  urges  the  adoption  of  some  positive  enactments  by  the  Chiu'ch 
to  arrest  the  progress  of  ritualism.  He  thought  that  the  e^-il 
could  be  corrected  by  such  legislation.     He  says  : 

"I  would  pass  a  canon  positively  forbidding  practices  and  teachings  that 
are  freely  indidged  in  l>y  some  of  the  clergy — practices  that  we  know  are 
more  than  slyly  suggestive  of  grave  errors  of  doctrine,  and  the  more  to  be 
dreaded  because  the  errors  are  hidden  under  forms  of  beauty  that  captivate 
the  young  and  imperil  them.  The  tendency  is  to  leave  the  truly  primitive 
and  the  truly  Catholic — Catholic  beca\;se  primitive — for  the  mediaeval.  I 
would  make  the  prohibition  perfectly  clear  and  distinct.     I  would  forbid  the 


LIFE    OF    IJISHOr    I'INKNEV.  t>77 

introduction  of  novelties  into  the  Kitiial  by  any  of  the  piifstlnmil.  Ni.thinf^ 
should  be  added  to,  and  uothin}^  shouhl  be  taken  away  from,  tin-  Hook  of 
Common  Prayer  as  it  stands.  I  would  make  th»'  attempt  to  do  it,  aftt-r 
admonition  of  the  Bishop,  j^round  for  trial,  and.  if  jjrovfd,  a  forfeiture  of 
the  ministerial  office.  I  would  try  not  for  doctrine  but  for  a  wilful  vinlution 
of  the  canon.  This  may  seem  a  harsh  process.  ]5\it  the  jieace  nf  the  (.'Imreh 
is  too  precious  to  be  put  in  jeopardy  by  the  private  faiicit-s  of  men  who 
spurn  counsel  and  set  hiw  at  detiance.  For  one  I  do  not  believe  that  the 
Church  is  made  stronger  by  having  in  its  membership  those  who  are  all  the 
while  drinking  in  the  spirit  of  mediajvalism  and  reviving  long  e.xploded 
A^iews  to  disturb  and  discjuiet.     Better  go  to  their  own  place." 

"NVlion,  therefore,  after  the  death  of  Bislioj)  Whittiiin^hain,  Bi.sho}> 
PixKXEV  became  sole  Bishop  hi  ehar<^e,  he  found,  as  his  predecessor 
had  done,  that  he  was  brought  into  painful  conflict  with  those 
whom  he  was  forced  to  reg-ard  as  disloyal  to  the  Church  by  both 
their  doctrinal  teachings  and  then-  ritualistic  practices  and  cere 
monies. 


278  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    FINKXEY 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Episcopal  Laboes — Bishop's  Missions — Failing  Health — Death  of   His 
Brothek.     1S77-'80. 

The  life  and  labors  of  Bishop  Pixkxey  for  the  next  three  years^ 
from  1877  to  1880,  were  marked,  as  all  the  preceding  years  of  his 
Episcopate  had  been,  with  assiduous  discharge  of  duty ;  and  during 
that  period  very  grave  events,  to  be  subsequently  noted,  occurred, 
affecting  him  personally  in  his  domestic  life  and  oflficialW  in  the 
sole  charge  of  jurisdiction  which  devolved  upon  him.  His  records 
for  these  years  indicate  very  decided  and  steady  growth  of  the 
Church  in  the  diocese,  the  record  for  the  year  at  the  Convention 
of  1880  showing  a  greater  number  of  persons  confirmed  and  more 
sermons  preached  than  in  any  ^-ear  of  his  Episcopate. 

The  labors  of  a  year  may  be  condensed  in  a  brief  summary  or 
record,  but  in  order  to  fully  comprehend  and  appreciate  them  in 
their  severe  demands  for  thought  and  care,  for  toil  and  time,  one 
would  have  to  follow  the  Bishop  as  from  day  to  day  he  was  wont 
to  go  forth  in  unwearying  devotion  to  his  work.  No  records  can 
tell  what  must  have  been  the  experiences  of  the  actor  in  this 
increasing  round  of  duty.  The  Bishop  had  not  then  the  lithe 
movement  and  ^dgor  of  his  early  days.  He  had  nearly  reached 
his  threescore  years  and  ten.  It  was  the  intense  convictions  of 
his  soul  that  carried  him  on  to  the  utmost  strain  of  physical  and 
mental  endurance.  Had  not  his  powers  of  endurance  been  so 
great  he  would  have  succumbed  at  a  mvich  earlier  period  under 
his  labors.  He  was  regardless  of  personal  ease  and  comfort  in 
travel,  often  going  in  oj^en  vehicles  and  through  stormy  weather. 

Thus  of  one  of  his  risitations  in  St.  Mar3'"s  county,^  in  November, 
he  writes : 

"  Had  to  return  to  Baltimore,  as  there  was  no  possible  way  of  reaching  thfr 
next  appointment.  This  I  deeply  regretted,  as  it  occasioned  disappointment 
and  J) lit  me  to  much  additional  trouble  and  loss  of  time.  It  could  not,  how- 
ever, be  laid  at  my  d(jor,  as  I  was  on  the  spot  waiting  to  be  conducted  to  the 
uext  point." 

A  few  days  after,  in  the  adjoining  county,  he  writes  : 

"  Rode  seven  miles  in  the  afternoon  to  confirm  one  poor  colored  candidate- 
in  private  address.     She  was  ill." 

Then  again,  later  in  the  season,  he  says  of  one  of  his  visitations : 

'  ■  I  had  to  ride  in  a  sleij;!!  through  a  snow^-drif t  to  the  parsonage  ;  rodfr 
to  the  church  in  a  terrible  snow-storm  ;  no  congregation." 


LIFE    (»F    ]!ISI(()1'    I'INKNKY.  '1~[) 

And  of  the  next  morning-  he  says  : 

"  Had  a  mtv  rdinaiitic  confliet  with  oue  of  the  worst  siinw-drifts  I  fvtT 
piic-omiti'i-fd,  at  5  A.  M.:   tlKTiiiDnictci-  lidow  zero." 

He  never  forgot  an  ai)i)ointnient,  and  was  always  pronij)tly  on 
liand  for  any  steand)oat  or  railroad  train  or  carriage  that  wiis  to 
meet  him.  It  was  only  in  some  few  instances,  wlien  stoi-ms  or 
floods  or  casualties  intervened,  that  he  was  prevented  from  reach- 
ing his  places  of  destination. 

He  was  singularly  mindful  of  even  litth'  casual  promises.  On 
one  of  his  visitations,  becoming  interested  in  a  little  hoy  of  the 
family  where  he  was  staying,  for  the  Bishop  was  very  f(jnd  of 
children  and  young  perscms,  he  said  to  the  child  that  he  would 
bring  him  a  penknife  next  time  he  came.  More  than  a  year 
elapsed,  and  all  about  it  had  l)een  forgotten,  even  by  the  l)oy 
himself,  but  when  the  Bishop  came  on  his  next  ^isit  as  soon  as  he 
greeted  the  child  he  di-ew  from  his  pocket  the  promised  penknife. 

"Walking  on  the  Avenue,  in  Washington,  with  a  young  friend 
goifig  away,  the  Bishop  stepped  for  a  moment  in  a  jeweller's 
store,  and  handed  to  the  youth  a  pair  of  gold  sleeve-buttons  as  a 
memento. 

Being  in  a  clergyman's  family  on  one  of  his  visitations  he  learned 
incidentally  that  one  of  the  rector's  daughters  had  been  much 
interested  in  some  extracts  from  the  J^^octes  Auihrosiaiid.  As 
soon  as  he  returned  to  Washington  he  forthwith  sent  to  her  a 
beautiful  and  complete  edition  of  all  the  volumes  of  the  Xoctes 
AmbrosUina. 

Many  instances  might  be  given  illustrative  of  his  thoughtful 
kindness  and  loving  spirit ;  and  not  a  few  of  the  clergy  received 
from  him   unexpected  gifts  of  some  valuable  works  in  theology. 

In  his  frequent  and  almost  constant  travel  on  raih-oads.  he  was 
very  observant  of  men  and  things,  noting  and  studying  human 
character,  and  with  quick  e^'e  catching  the  beauties  in  the  changes 
in  natural  scenery.  So  well  known  was  he,  not  only  to  the 
otScials  on  the  railroads,  but  to  those  accustomed  to  travel  on 
the  different  routes,  that  the  most  respectful  attentions  were  paid 
to  him,  and  the  hours  were  often  dej^rived  of  weariness  by  con- 
verse with  friends  or  casual  acquaintances  formed  in  the  cars : 
and  whether  on  railroad  or  street  car.  he  always  insisted  upon 
giving  up  his  seat  to  any  lady,  or  invalid,  or  aged  one.  Often  in 
the  crowded  street  cars  he  would  decline  a  proffered  seat,  and 
with  satchel  in  one  hand,  and  holding  on  to  the  strap  overhead 
with  the  other,  he  would  make  idl  things  pleasant  by  some 
apposite  words;  and  whenever  any  of  the  clerical  biethren  were 
with  him,  or  taking  one  of  the  city  cars,  l)efore  any  one  could 
hand  in  ticket  or  nickel,  it  would  be  found  that  the  Bishop  had 
anticipated  all  by  paying  the  fare  of  each  one. 


280  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    riNKNEY. 

On  liis  raili'oad  travels  incidents  not  infrequently  occurred 
when  he  was  able  to  render  to  others,  in  his  prompt  and  courteous 
way.  the  kindly  offices  of  counsel  or  help.  The  following  letter 
illustrates  one  of  such  incidents  occurring  while  he  was  waiting 
at  the  Relay  station  for  a  train : 

"  Washingtox,  D.  C. 
*'  To  Rev.  Bishop  Pinkxey. 

"Dear  Sir:  Some  time  ago  at  the  station  Relay  Hoiase  Jiiuctiou   you 

paid  the  fare  of  a  lady  going  west  to  B ville,  Maryland,  who.  from  trains 

failing  to  connect  at' that  place,  was  unable  to  travel  <m  directly,  and  was 
obliged  to  go  on  another  route.  The  conductor  compelling  her  to  pay 
another  fare,  and  not  having  any  money  about  her,  she  would  have  been 
obliged  to  remain  if  you  had  not  paid  the  fare  (extra)  for  her. 

"The  lady  was  my  sister,  and  she  wrote  of  your  kindness  to  her.  and 
requested  me  to  remit  the  amount  which  you  so  kindly  advanced. 

"  Allow  me,  sir,  to  add  my  thanks  to  hers  to  express  our  sense  of  your 
great  kindness  on  the  occasion. 

"  I  remain,  with  great  respect, 

"  T S  A L." 

Early  in  1877,  Bishop  Pinkxey  was  called  to  attend  the  funeral 
j  of  the  late  Rear -Admiral  Louis  M.  Goldsborough.  His  relations 
and  those  of  his  brother.  Surgeon  Xinian  Pinkney,  with  the  deceased 
naval  officer  and  with  the  family  had  been  intimate  for  years. 
.  The  Admiral,  when  in  "NVashrngton,  had  been  one  of  the  Bishop's 
1  parishioners  in  the  Church  of  the  Ascension,  and  was  the  com- 
manding officer  of  the  naval  squadron  in  which  Dr.  Ninian  Pink- 
ney had  been  the  surgeon  for  a  number  of  years.  The  funeral 
ser^•ices  were  held  in  the  Church  of  the  Ascension.  "Washington, 
on  the  22d  February.  1877.  The  address  of  the  Bishoj)  on  that 
occasion  was  one  of  such  marked  beauty  and  excellence  in  the 
portraiture  of  the  Admu-al's  character  and  life,  that  it  called 
forth,  after  its  delivery,  the  request  for  publication,  and  elicited 
a  letter  from  Dr.  J.  C.  Welling,  of  the  Columbian  University,  which 
is  given  below.  The  following  extracts  from  the  address  are  also 
given : 

"  He  was  a  friend  and  I  dearly  loved  him.  I  loved  him  for  his  bravery, 
for  his  womanly  tenderness,  for  the  dew-drops  of  charity  he  distilled  on  the 
pathway  of  the  sorrowing.  He  was  too  brave  a  man  to  do  a  wrong  deed. 
Honest  as  day.  he  passed  through  naval  life  and  private  life  without  reproach. 
But  above  all  he  was,  I  believe,  a  truly  d*vout  churchman,  faithful  to  his 
baptismal  vow  and  the  eucharistic  that  sealed  his  allegiance  to  GOD.  Some 
years  ago  I  watched  with  him  the  passage  to  the  grave  of  a  sou  and  a 
daughter,  who  walked  gently  dcnvn  to  the  river's  brink  and  crossed  over  in 
peace  ;  and  it  was  beautifiil  to  see  the  resignation  that  was  beaming  from 
his  tearful  eye,  and  crushed  and  bleeding  heart.     *     *     * 

•'  Standing  in  the  midst  of  those  of  you  who  knew  him,  honored  him,  and 
loved  him.  I  may  be  allowed  t(j  say  what  (jtherwise  I  might  feel  to  keep  to 
myself,  that  nothing  has  given  me  so  much  ot  joy  and  just  pride  as  the  con- 
sciousness that  to-day  the  n-ligion  of  the  cr(jss  has  no  more  self-denying, 
stalwart  defenders  than  the  men  who  fling  out  the  stars  and  stripes  to  every 
breeze  that  blows.     England,  the  grand  old  monarchy,  whose  path  is  on  the 


LIFE    OF    lilSlUO'    I'lNKNF.V.  '2S\ 

inoinitiiiu-wave,  and  whose  home  is  mi  ihf  di.c])  :  wh..  has  ^'ivni  iis  a  iixhlc 
litoratiirc.  a  iiohh-  cixh-  <>{  hiws.  and  a  still  nul)li'r  tln'(ili>;4y.  ),'avf  us  a  Cnlliiij,'- 
wood— the  pridt'  of  the  nation  anil  the  peer  of  Nelxm  in  the  lieaiity  of  liiw 
meek  faith,  for  study.  And  now  we  are  j^'iviu},'  hack  to  the  Old  W«irld  a  mhvhI 
prowess,  softened  and  suhliniated  in  many  of  our  sons  l)y  a  faith  as  simple 
as  ii  child's,  to  assure  them  that  we  are  never  so  well  satisfied  as  when  we 
see  our  standard  planted  ou  the  cross,  and  feel  that  in  this  we  have  the  surest 
guaranty  of  ])eace  preserved,  or  the  terrors  of  war  alleviated.  Aniou^  the 
last  words  uttered  by  our  lamented  friend  were  tin-se  :  •  My  trust  is  in 
CHRIST  alon.'.'  *  *  *  We.  too.  are  dying  !  Earth  is  crum'l.ling  lieneath 
our  feet.  The  things  that  are  seen  are  temporal.  Oh.  let  us  lay  hold  on 
eternal  life  I  Let  us  seek  solid  and  substantial  .ioys,  and  lay  our  treasures  up 
in  heaven." 


"  The  Columbian  University. 

"  Washinoton,  Fehri/ari/  2'A.  ls77. 

"  My  Dear  Bishop  :  I  feel  assured  that  I  am  representing  the  thought  of 
'everybody  who  heard  you  yesterday  at  the  funeral  of  Admiral  Goldsborough. 
when  I  express  the  earnest  ho])<>  and  wish  that  you  should  give  your  eh  xpient 
and  excellent  discourse  to  a  wider  public  than  those  present  at  the  ("hui-cli 
of  the  Ascension,  and  to  the  family  and  friends  of  the  departed  Admiral  in  a 
shajje  fitted  for  preservation. 

"  I  need  not  characterize  your  sermon,  whether  regar<l  be  ha<l  to  its  style 
or  content — to  its  beautiful  ])ortraiture  of  a  man  in  whom,  as  you  truly 
observed,  the  lion  and  the  lamli  were  harmoniously  blended,  or  to  the  Tuoral 
and  religious  lessons  pointed  tor  the  whole  community  by  the  shining  nuirks 
at  which  death  lias  recently  been  aiming  his  darts  in  Washington.  The 
inspired  preacher  has  told  us  that  '  the  words  of  the  wise  are  as  goads,  and 
as  nails  fastened  by  the  masters  of  asseml)lies.'  Let  us,  then,  have  the 
words  you  uttered  yesterday  in  a  form  which  shall  help  to  '  fasten  '  them  in 
the  memory  and  consciences  of  your  hearers. 

"  I  beg  leave  to  add  that  in  so  writing  I  do  not  speak  for  myself  alone.  I 
have  heard  the  same  wish  exi)ressed  by  all  with  whom  I  have  communicated 
on  the  subject. 

"  G.  is  quite  sick,  but  sends  her  love  to  you. 

"  Ever  aflfectiouatelv  vours, 

"JAMES  C.  WELLING." 

Bishop  Pinkney's  laborious  duties,  however,  ])eoan  iit  h-iiofh  to 
tell  upou  his  coustitutiou  aiul  health.  He  was  very  much  hel})ecl 
and  recuperated,  however,  by  his  brief  rest  in  suunuer  for  a  few 
weeks  at  the  White  Sulphur  as  Mr.  Corcorans  guest.  ]3ut  he 
seems  not  to  have  taken  any  such  rest  in  1877,  as  the  following 
letter  shows  : 

"August  '.»,  1H77. 

"My  Dear  Mr.  Corcoran:  I  begin  now  to  i-egret  that  I  did  not  leave 
myself  at  liberty  to  accept  of  your  very  kind  invitation,  as  I  am  not  feeling 
well.  But  it  cannot  now  V)e  remedied.  I  have  wi>rk  running  on  all  through 
Aiigust  and  September.  I  am  very  sorry  to  hear  that  you  are  not  improved 
in  health.  But  i)erhaps  in  the  good  Providence  of  GOD  you  may  feel  the 
improvement  after  your  return  to  the  city.  It  is,  I  think,  often  so.  The 
system  is  invigorated  by  the  change  of  air  and  scene,  although  the  effects 
are  not  immediately  observed.  Your  mission  in  life  is  still  most  important, 
and  I  trust  GOD  will  spare  you  to  accomplish  it  fully.  It  is  one  of  the 
graces  (?)  of  time,  the  higher*  life  to  cultivate  and  the  sublimer  mission  to 


282  LIFE    OF    BISHOr    riXKXEY. 

prepare  for.  '  We  die  daily,'  St.  Paul  says  :  aud  this  is  the  true  life — weaning 
the  heart  away  from  the  world  that  now  is,  the  bright  and  beautiful  world 
where  there  is  much  to  charm,  '  in  sky  aud  sea  and  laud.'  is  the  grand  lesson 
we  have  to  learn.  It  is  only  when  by  faith  we  see  the  things  that  are  eternal 
and  rise  to  the  moral  grandeur  of  our  i:)Osition  as  the  called  of  GOD  that  we 
can  hope  to  appreciate  as  we  ought  the  things  that  are  temporal.  May  you 
be  kept  in  peace  !  May  the  overshadowing  of  the  viewless  wing  be  over  you  ! 
May  the  bird  in  the  heart  sing  sweetly  as  you  walk  through  the  valley  of 
tears !  May  the  dews  of  yoitr  charity  fall  itpon  the  jiathway  you  tread ! 
May  the  alabaster  box  be  broken  over  the  body  of  your  LORD. 

"  We  are  living  in  fearful  times,  it  seems  to  me  ;  times  that  try  men's 
hearts.  The  violence  and  fratid  with  all  their  train  of  evils  call  for  the  wisest 
statesmanship  and  the  most  earnest  Christian  faith.  But  still  I  hope  for  the 
best.  Love  to  the  little  ones,  and  my  very  kindest  regards  to  Miss  Eustis. 
She  has  always  been  very  kind  to  me.  aud  I  appreciate  it. 

"Alfectiouately, 

"  W.  W.  CoRCORAX,  Esq.  "  W.  P.' 

Laborious  as  were  bis  regular  Episcopal  duties  he  superadded 
to  them  what  he  called  his  '•  Bishojj's  Missions,"  of  which  he  was 
accustomed  to  hold  several  dui'iug  the  year — usually  in  the  coun- 
try parishes,  sometimes  in  the  city  churches.  They  were  held  at 
certain  intervals  in  his  Episcopal  appointments,  when  he  might 
very  well  have  rested. 

He  held  two  such  '•  Episcopal  IMissions  "  in  the  autumn  of  1879, 
and  again,  several  in  every  successive  year.  He  usually  took  with 
him  two  or  three  of  the  clergy,  and  for  several  successive  days 
held  continuous  services,  morning,  afternoon,  and  evening,  with 
earnest  preachings  and  exhortations  by  himself  and  the  clerical 
brethren.  The  Bishop  doubtless  remembered  the  times  of  spirit- 
ual refreshment  and  incitement  in  those  '*  associations  "  held  dur- 
ing his  early  ministry,  aud  in  which  he  was  wont  to  participate 
with  his  clerical  brethren. 

By  holding  such  "  missions  "  he  was,  in  fact,  by  his  own  prac- 
tice, really  anticipating  what  has  since  been  found,  under  judicious 
management,  by  those  j^ossessing  the  special  qualifications,  a  very 
effective  means  of  mission  spiritual  work  in  parishes  and  congre- 
gations. While  the  ordinary  and  settled  ministrations  of  the 
Church  are  most  effective  for  the  important  ends  of  theu*  ajipoint^ 
ment.  it  has  been  thought  by  many  earnest  minds  that  a  series  of 
special  services  of  a  somewhat  extraordinary  and  '"  revival "  char- 
acter were  from  time  to  time  needed,  not  only  to  kindle  up  fresh 
life  in  the  membership  of  the  Church,  but  be  made  the  means  of 
bringing  under  direct  ministrations  that  large  mass  outside  the 
Chiu'ch  "  having  no  hope,  and  without  GOD  in  the  world."  Hence 
the  "  spiritual  retreat."  the  ''^^arochial  mission."  the  "convocation,"' 
under  the  dean  or  an  archdeacon,  and  the  agency  of  special 
"  evangelists." 

Bishop  PiXKNEY  found  that,  apart  from  the  good  spiritual  and 
awakening  results  of  his  •'  Episcopal  Missions,"  he  was  brought,, 
by  holding  them,  into  more  direct  and  closer  relations  with  the 


LIFK    or    IMSIlol'    I'iNKM-.V.  '283' 

members  of  the  coii^a-e<4atious.  wlio  felt  that  us  their  chief  pastor 
in  the  Lord  he  was  taking- a  deip  inttiest  hi  jill  that  concerned 
both  their  temporal  and  their  spiritual  welfare.  This  hel))<-d  to 
g-ive  him  that  powei-ful  hold  wliich  lie  had  upon  the  niiii<ls  and 
hearts  of  the  laity. 

His  reference  to  some  of  these  missions  is  interesting-;  of  one 
held  in  the  Ascension  Church,  Baltimore,  on  the  14tli  of  January, 
1881,  he  says : 

"  I  preac-hed  the  opcniiij^  sermon  to  a  \.i\  ^..inl  i-.m-n-iii  um.  (ii'^piii- 
the  terrilih'  state  of  the  weather.      *     *     *         " 

"  This  was  my  first  Episcopal  mission  in  the  city  of  Baltimore. 

"  I  feel  justified  in  saying  that  its  success,  under  GOD,  met  fully  my  moHt 
sanguine  expectations.  It  was  in  all  respects  thoroughly  clnn-(-hly!  The 
l)reaehing  was  earnest,  positive,  and  direct.  It  was  marked  l)y  signal  ability 
on  the  part  of  my  young  helj)ers.  It  was  preceded  by  weeks  of  i>rayer,  for 
without  prayer  I  felt  the  work  must  fail.  I  had  a  twofold  ohjeet  iii  view: 
the  reviving  the  work  of  grace  in  believers,  and  the  moving  thosr  who  had 
neglected  the  calls  of  the  Spirit  to  thought  autl  action.  I  believe  in  the 
continuous  preacliing  of  the  Word.  I  also  l)elieve  in  the  wisdom  of  work- 
ing with  two  or  three.  I  was  rejoiced  to  find  myself  surrounded  by  the 
vestry,  who  had  all  through  the  work  warm  words  of  cheer.  The  ladies 
were  indefatigalde  in  their  efforts  to  minister  to  our  physical  necessities. 
They  will  be  pleased  to  hear  that  their  Bishop  never  felt  more  iit  home- 
than  with  the  people  of  Ascension.  These  services  were  an  oasis  in  my 
careworn  life.'' 

Of  one  held  for  several  successive  days  at  West  Iliver,  Anne 
Arundel  county,  he  writes  : 

"  This  was  a  very  successful  mission.  The  people  were  alive  to  its  impor- 
tance, and  evinced  in  their  attendance  and  deep  attention  their  sympathy 
with  their  Bisho]).  The  hospitality  extended  to  us  was  just  what  one  would 
e.xpect  from  one  of  the  garden-spots  in  the  diocese.  It  is  no  dis))aragement 
to  any  other  to  say  that  West   Iliver  is  the  seat  of  culture  anil   refinement." 

Besides  the  active  duties  of  the  Episcopate,  there  is  a  great 
deal  of  other  work  to  be  done  :  a  Bishops  correspondence,  iu 
answering  letters,  giving  counsels,  adjtisting  parochial  dilticulties 
and  troubles,  and  arranging  plans  for  future  work,  absorb  a  great 
deal  of  time  and  call  for  the  exercise  of  much  thought  and  wise 
judgment.  Moreover,  the  Bishop  must  have  time  to  prepare  ser- 
mons, keep  u})  study,  and  l^ecome  well  versed  in  the  many  grave 
questions  which  bear  upon  the  interests  and  jn'ogress  of  the  Gen- 
eral Church.  In  addition  to  all  wliich  is  that  deep  and  almost 
ixiinful  sense  of  responsibility  which  every  true  Bishop  feels 
respecting  the  welfare  of  the  tiock  over  which  the  Holy  (xhost 
hath  made  him  -  overseer."  And  all  who  ever  had  any  Imsiness, 
any  social  or  ecclesiastical  relations,  with  Bishop  Pinknev  well 
knew  how  conscientious  and  exact  he  was  in  seeking  to  meet  every 
engagement  and  duty.  He  would  deny  himself  needful  rest  and 
put  himself  to  great  inccmvenience  and  tr()ul)le  in  order  that  he 


284  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

might  render  to  others  some  personal  or  official  service.  It  is 
not  surprising,  therefore,  strong  as  was  his  natural  constitution, 
that  under  the  stress  and  wear  of  threescore  years  and  ten  he 
should  l)egin  to  feel  some  of  the  physical  intirmities  of  age.  In 
1878  there  Avere  some  indications  of  failing  health.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  that  year  he  was  suddenly  seized  with  serious  illness, 
brought  on  by  exposure  to  heat  in  travel,  which  might  have  proved 
fatal  but  for  prompt  medical  aid.  The  attack  came  on  while  on 
a  visitation  towards  the  close  of  the  month  of  June.  On  the  day 
jDreceding,  the  23d,  he  had  visited  the  Agricultural  College  and 
jDreached  the  baccalaureate  sermon  in  the  morning,  and  in  the 
afternoon  went  on  to  Mt.  "Washington,  near  Baltimore,  where  lie 
preached  and  held  confirmation.  Returning  through  Baltimore 
the  next  day  he  "■  was  taken."  as  he  states  in  his  convention 
address,  "  very  ill  on  the  cars.  The  doctor  prescribed  total 
rest.  I  was  consequently  compelled  to  recall  several  outstanding 
aj^joointments.  It  was  a  very  severe  threat,  of  which,  however, 
there  has  been  providentially  no  return."  In  a  letter  written  a 
few  days  after  to  the  eldest  daughter  of  his  friend.  Dr.  Lewin,  he 
more  jDarticularly  describes  this  attack. 

"I  was  taken  on  Monday  in  a  peculiar  way:  went  to  the  ears  at  Mt. 
Washiuj^ton,  and  walked  to  the  station  and  took  my  seat ;  reached  Baltimore 
and  took  the  street-ears  for  Camden  station.  After  I  entered  the  Baltimore 
cars  I  seemed  to  have  lost  consciousness,  for  I  passed  Bladensburg  without 
kncnving  it  was  the  place  to  get  out,  and  at  the  Washington  depot  I  remained 
sitting,  when  a  gentleman  said  to  me,  '  it  is  the  place  to  get  out  I  '  I 
managed  to  get  to  Burchell's,  and  went  to  Led.  Garuett  came  and  v;sed 
strong  remedies.  *  *  *  The  next  morning  I  was  miich  relieved.  T  got 
home,  through  Burchell's  kindness,  at  night  :  am  feeling  a  little  stronger 
to-day.  My  own  opinion  is  that  I  was  strongly  threatened  with  apoplexy ; 
but  say  nothing  of  this  to  no  one  but  your  father.  I  do  not  wish  it  to  get 
out.     It  was  the  excessive  overwork  of  the  last  two  weeks. 

"I  shall  not  be  able  to  attend  the  convocation.  I  sent  Andrews  word. 
I  regret  exceedingly  that  I  did  not  reach  the  Mission  Committee.  I  hope 
they  did  the  thing  that  is  right.  The  doctor  has  advised  total  rest.  He 
says  it  is  indispensable ;  no  nerves,  brain,  or  body  can  stand  it." 

His  friend.  Dr.  Lewin,  was  ill  about  the  same  time,  and  grave 
fears  were  entertained  as  to  the  result  of  his  sickness. 

In  this  same  letter  to  the  daughter,  the  Bishop  strongly  lu-ges 
that  her  father  should  go  to  the  Sulphur  Springs  in  Yu-ginia  :  "  I 
hoj^e  he  will  go  as  soon  as  possible  ;"'  adding,  "I  am  satisfied  that 
he  had  better  tax  his  strength  to  go."  Dr.  Lewin  did  go ;  and 
the  rest  and  the  medicinal  waters  had  the  happiest  effect  in 
entire  restoration  to  health. 

Alarming  as  was  the  Bishop's  attack  of  illness,  he  did  not  long- 
rest,  for  in  less  than  ten  days  we  find  him  resuming  visitations  ; 
but  he  was  soon  compelled  to  relinqv^ish  these  visitations  during 
-the  hot  summer  months.     He  records,  on  July  5,  this  note : 


LIFE    OF    ]!]SI|(il'    PINKM.V.  285 

•• 'Returned  to  Blinlensl)mj,',  au.l  was  int.'idict.-d  fr-.m  all  furtliir  \v..rk 
l)y  the  Dot-tor.'  He  then  went  on  to  the  White  Suljihur  Springs  t..  he  the 
1,'uest  of  his  friend,  Mr.  Corcoran,  '  whose  kinilness  to  me,' as  he  wrote,  •  haH 
known  no  abatement  these  many  years.'  " 

Ho  cjuiie  l)ack  luucli  refresliod  In-  llic  rest  !m(l  nM-i(ali..ii.  un.l 
eiiily  in  September  entered  upon  his  autuinnal  and  winter  visita- 
tions. 

lu  the  month  of  October  iji  this  year.  1S77,  he  was  in  attend- 
ance at  the  General  Convention  heht  in  Boston,  and  took  ])nvt  in 
the  House  of  Bisho})s  in  the  important  proceedino-s  of  that  body. 
At  these  triennial  meetings  he  met  with  many  special  friemls  iu 
the  Episcopate  and  amono-  the  clergy.  They  were  as  refreshing 
to  him  as  they  were  delightful  to '^  those  friends.  He  started 
some  week  or  ten  days  before  the  meeting  of  the  body,  to  enul)le 
him  to  make  a  visit  to  his  friend.  Judge  Huntington,  in  Hartford, 
Connecticut,  where  on  Sunday,  30th  September,  he  preadnMl  iji 
the  morning  at  Trinity  Church,  and  in  the  afternoon  at  the  college 
chapel.  By  appointment,  during  the  convention,  be  ja-eached 
for  the  Board  of  Missions  in  Lynn.  Massachusetts,  and  again  l)y 
special  request  for  the  Rev.  Dr.  Giesy  in  Norwich,  Connecticut. 

Returning,  he  resumed  his  visitations  in  the  diocese  on  tlie 
28th  of  October. 

Towards  the  close  of  this  same  year.  1877,  the  Bishoj)  exjx-i-i- 
enced  a  sad  bereavement  in  the  death  of  his  youngei-  and  oidy 
brother.  Surgeon  Ninian  Pinkney,  of  the  Vnited  States  Navy.  He 
died  on  the  15th  of  Deceml)er,  1877,  after  a  brief  illness,  at  his 
residence  near  Easton,  Talbot  county,  Maryland.  The  Bishop 
was  able  to  be  with  him  for  consolation  in  the  last  moments  and 
for  the  commendatory  offices  of  the  Church  over  the  departing' 
spirit.  The  mutual  attachment  between  these  brothers  was 
singularly  tender  and  enduring.  Each  had  for  the  other  an 
almost  unbounded  admiration  in  the  spheres  thev  resjjcctivelv 
tilled. 

A  clergyman  of  the  Church  who  had  l)een  the  i)astor  of  Sur- 
geon Ninian  Pinkney  for  several  years  and  was  intimate  in  his 
family  as  one  of  his  nearest  friends,  thus  wrote  to  the  Bishop : 

"  I  can  speak  from  my  own  knowledge  of  his  noble  charaeteristies,  and 
from  personal  experience  of  his  many  kindnesses  to  me  and  mine.  I  had  a 
high  estimate  of  his  great  and  varied  powers  :  of  his  vast  erudition  iu  iue<l- 
ical  science  ;  of  his  extraordinary  learning  outside  of  his  )>rofession,  even 
to  a  large  compass  of  constitutional  law  and  political  philosophy;  of  his 
special  gifts  of  oratory  :  and,  not  least,  of  those  genial  (jualities  which 
rendered  him  so  delightful  in  the  social  circle,  and  made  his  preseni'e  so 
enjoyable  to  his  friends,  whether  at  his  own  hospital)le  mansion  or  elsewhere. 
I  can  never  forget  his  kinihiesses,  bis  marked  characteristics,  his  almost  mar- 
vellous powers  and  capacities." 

Of  the  letters  of  condolence  which  he  received  not  one  was  more 
touching  and  beautiful   than  that   whic-h   came  to  him   from   his 


"286  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

intimate  friend.  Dr.  James  C.  Welling,  of  the  Colunilnan  Univer- 
sity, from  Avhicli  the  concluding  paragraphs  are  here  given  : 

*  *  *  "  It  is  indeed  u  great  afHiction  iu  whose  shadow  yoia  have  been 
called  to  sit,  for  the  heart  of  yt>iu-  brother  was  kuit  to  you.  and  your  heart 
Avas  knit  to  him  iu  an  affection  which  was  as  singuhir  as  it  was  beautiful. 
The  very  sight  of  it  was  a  benediction  to  your  friends  :  and,  if  so,  how  great 
must  have  been  the  joy  which  each  of  you  took  in  the  other. 

''  There  is  an  old  German  hymn  whose  lines  always  come  back  to  my 
memory  in  moments  like  these.  The  purport  of  them  is,  that  '  as  we  look 
downward  om'  pathway  in  life  seems  to  lie  over  the  graves  of  those  who  are 
most  dear  to  us.  but  when  we  lift  our  eyes  upward  we  see  that  our  way  lies 
under  the  unsetting  stars  f)f  the  Divine  promises.'  That  these  stars  may 
guide  you  through  this  '  night  of  weeping '  unto  the  '  morning  of  joy '  is, 
my  dear  Bishop,  the  fervent  prayer  of  your  affectionate  friend, 

••  J.  C.  WELLING." 

In  communicating  to  his  friend,  Judge  Huntington,  the  intel- 
ligence of  his  brother's  death,  he  writes  : 

"  December  17,  1877. 

"  Deak  Judge  :  I  know  you  will  be  grieved  to  hear  that  my  brother  fell 
asleep  on  Saturday.  His  end  was  calm  and  peaceful.  His  disease,  I  think, 
was  incurable  ;  some  obstruction  iu  the  stomach,  so  that  nothing  could  pass 
into  it. 

•'  He  said  to  me  the  day  he  died.  '  I  have  i\\\\  confidence  in  the  mercv  of 
GOD  in  JESUS  CHRIST  our  LOED.  My  sole  trust  is  in  Him  crucified.' 
And  then  with  an  eloquence  of  manner  I  have  never  seen  equalle'd.  he  added, 
'  if  the  key-stone  of  the  arch  of  this  dependence.'  pointing  with  his  finger 
to  the  heart.  '  be  not  broken.  I  think  all  will  Ije  well.'  He  was,  dear  Judge. 
a  large-hearted  man.  as  sympathetic  as  a  child.  His  skill  iu  surgery  was 
not  excelled,  if  it  was  equalled,  by  any  one  iu  this  country.  He  has  saved 
by  discretion  more  limbs  than  most  others  have  cut  oft'.  This  is  a  terrible 
blow  to  me.  We  were  only  fourteen  months  asunder  in  our  birth,  and  never 
severed  afterwards  farther  than  distance  and  duty  severed  irs.  I  shall  carry 
the  shadow  of  this  cross  to  my  grave.  He  was  in  many  respects  a  most 
remarkable  man.  But  so  it  is.  One  is  taken  and  another  left.  My  heart 
is  too  full  of  sadness  to  say  more.  Love  to  all. 
'"  Affectionatelv, 

"  WILLIAM  PINKNEY." 

Writing  again  soon  after  to  Judge  Huntington,  who  had  mean- 
while sustained  a  like  bereavement  in  his  own  family,  the  Bishop 
thus  condoles  with  him,  and  touchingly  alludes  to  his  own  sorrow  : 

"  February  12.  1878. 
"  My  Dear  Judge  :  Your  letter  touched  and  grieved  me  deeply.  I  little 
thought  that  you  would  be  so  soon  called  to  pass  through  the  same  bitter 
waters  as  have  wellnigh  flooded  my  soul.  And  yet  I  rejoice  that  you  have 
such  sweet  and  tender  memories  to  soothe  yoii.  and  such  well-grounded 
hope  that  your  loss  is  his  gain.  The  loss  at  oiir  time  of  life  may  not  be 
repaired.  There  is  a  solitude  in  the  heart  that  nothing  earthly  can  fill :  a 
silence  in  the  soul  that  no  earthly  miisic  tones  can  break.  Oh.  my  dear 
Judge,  you  have  had  heavy  crosses  to  bear ;  but  still  you  have  a  sunlight  of 
hope  in  all  of  them  that  is  as  rare  as  it  is  beautiful  Your  brother's  illness 
was  about  the  same  as  mine.  Eapifl  was  the  progress  of  disease.  I  rejoice 
to  know  that  in  your  daughtej-s  and  sons  you  have  strong,  loving  hearts  to 


LIFE    OF    JilSMOl'    I'lNKNKY.  287 

;U'iiii   on,    anil   in   your   uraiidiliil.ln'ii   such    .•l.xiurut    disiji-H.-rs  of  sorrow. 
Tlu'sc  I  havo  not. 

••How  stranijt' it  is  :  I  look  for  my  brotli.-r.  Hits  li^'lit.  l.uovimf  st.-p, 
his  (hcin-fnl  t(jne.  his  every  movement  <)f  the  hand,  are  so  visil.h-  that  I  lo.>k 
to  the  door  and  almost  feel  he  will  enter.  He  was  cominK'  '••''^  month  to  s,.,. 
me.  In  the  room  in  which  I  am  writing,'  are  li>,rhters  lie  mad.-  out  of  manu- 
script he  destroyed,  and  on  one  or  two  of  them  I  ol)taine<l  infonnation  I 
needed  in  ineparim,'  his  memoir,  which  is  now  in  the  printer's  hands  at  New 
York.  One  is  taken  and  another  left.  Well!  so  it  is.  There  is  no  .me 
liviufi  whose  me.'kn.-ss  and  simple-heart. -d  faith  I  so  covet  as  yours.  No  lift- 
that  has  passed  under  my  notice  has  ^'iven  me  .so  mnch  .)f  jdcasur.-and  warm 
approval.  We  are  shadows,  dear  Judj,'e.  Only  t.)-day  I  saw  in  th.-  j.ap.-rs 
that  William  Welsh  had  dropped  dead  on  a  niission'of  men-v.  He  was  a 
grand  type  of  our  redeemed  humanity.  For  although  he  was"  not  tin-  nuin 
that  drew  men  to  him.  he  was  a  man  <")f  immense  force  in  the  Church  work. 

••I  still  hoj)e  I  shall  be  able  to  get  to  see  you  in  Jun.'  for  four  days. 
including  a  Sunday.  I  wrote  a  sermon  on  •  wiping  away  all  tears,'  Ac,  and 
another  on  •  He  saw  them  toiling  in  rowing,'  and  to  y.iu  I  wish  to  preach 
them.  For  they  are  in  accord  with  your  wounded  heart  and  mine.  Love 
irom  Mrs.  P.  and  Mr.  L..  with  deepest  symjiathy. 

'•  Afl'ectionately, 

"Hon.  S.  H.  Huntington.  W.  P." 

The  Bishop,  iu  the  letter  he  was  iiccustomed  to  write  to  Mr. 
Corcoran  on  his  birthday,  touchingly  alludes  to  this  death  of  his 
brother : 

"  WASHiNfJTON,  Dei'euihir  'iii,  1x77. 

"  ilY  Dear  Mr.  CoKCOR.\N  :  Though  it  will  not  be  in  my  power  t.>  join 
you  and  the  ladies  at  the  Home,  I  desire  to  express  to  you  my  congratula- 
tions on  the  recurrence  of  another  birthday,  which  I  trust  OOI)  in  His 
goodness  will  crown  with  the  richest  blessing.  The  incense  of  the  alabaster 
box  which  y<m  have  so  often  broken  in  this  wearisome  pilgrimage  is  still 
shedding  over  your  pathway  its  sweete.st  fragrance.  The  memory  of  your 
loving  deeds  is  calling  down  upon  j-ou  a  thousand  blessings  from  those  whose 
hunger  you  have  fed  and  whose  sad  hearts  you  have  cheered.  But  after  all. 
my  dear  friend,  it  is  the  love  that  meets  us  in  the  manger  and  on  the  cross, 
the  love  that  lirst  sought  us  oiit  and  then  enkindled  in  the  heart  the  true  love 
of  our  neigh Vjor,  which  is  the  richest  cordial  of  our  souls. 

••  I  was  much  obliged  to  you  for  calling  on  me,  and  was  sorry  that  I  was 
not  at  home  to  give  you  a  greeting. 

"  A  dark  shadow  has  passed  over  me  since  I  saw  you  last.  In  my  breather's 
death  I  have  sustained  a  loss  I  can  never  estimate.  For  twenty  years  we 
shared  the  same  bed,  and  there  was  never  a  divided  heart  between  us.  Ami 
now  that  we  are  about  to  step  from  one  year  into  an.ither,  I  trust  that  bright. t 
skies  will  be  over  you  and  the  brighter  simshine  of  the  three  young  h.-arts 
whom  GOD  has  given  you  to  kee]j  fresh  and  glowing  the  lov.'d  ones  who 
have  gone  before.  I  trust  that  the  graces  of  th.-  spirit,  faith.  hoi)e.  ami 
love  will  acquire  increasing  strength  each  h.)ur.  There  is  a  beauty  in  that 
yearly  gathering  at  the  Home.  S.mie  of  the  brightest  ami  the  saintli.-st 
have  entered  into  their  rest  in  Paradise,  waiting  the  LORD'S  own  ap]iointed 
time  w-hen  they  shall  enter  the  house  of  many  mansions.  To  know  that 
you  took  them  to  your  own  house  bef.n-e  the  Savi.mr  called  for  them  is  a 
source  of  the  sweetest  satisfaction. 

"  But  I  must  not  weary  you.     My  heart  is  very  sad. 
"  Affectionately, 

•  W.   I'.  • 


288  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

This  letter  was  followed  in  a  few  days  by  another : 

'-  Beeemher  29.  1877. 

"  My  Deak  Me.  Corcor.^x  :  Iliad  written  you  a  letter  on  your  birthday 
before  I  received  yours  so  beautifully  expressive  of  your  sympathy.  I  was 
saying  to  Mrs.  Pinkney  hov^-  extraordinary  Mr.  Corcoran's  signature  is,  and 
how  I  wish  I  could  write  so  fine  a  hand.     It  is  a  great  accomplishment. 

"I  seem  to  have  passed  through  a  fearfiil  dream.  Three  weeks  ago  and 
my  brother  was  writing  at  this  table  in  the  room  which  I  recently  put  up 
fdi-  him,  and  which  is  called  l)y  his  name.  He  was  then  in  the  flush  of  health 
and  full  of  earthly  hopes.  What  a  satire  on  the  life  that  now  is  1  You  have 
turned  it  to  goodaccount,  my  dear  sir.  I  thank  GOD  that  a  life  so  precioias 
to  multitudes  is  lengthened  out,  and  I  pray  that  you  may  be  long  spared  to 
guide,  watch  over,  and  direct  your  noble  charities,  which  without  your  wise 
and  judicioiTS  counsel  might  fail  of  the  full  increase  of  relief  you  designed 
to  afford  a  suffering  humanity.     *     ♦     * 

"  Thanking  you  for  the  letter  so  beautifully  expressive  of  your  sympathy. 
"  Affectionately, 

"W.  P." 

Some  few  months  after  the  death  of  his  brother,  the  Bishop 
issued  a  brief  memoir-,  in  mernoriatn,  paj'ing  a  just  tribute  to  his 
professional  and  personal  qualities.  IJpon  sending  a  copy  of  the 
monograph  to  his  friend,  Dr.  J.  C.  Welling.  President  of  Colum- 
bian University,  he  received  from  him  the  following  letter  : 

••  Washington,  May  16,  1878. 

'•  My  Dear  Bishop  :  I  have  very  sincerely  to  thank  you  for  your  thought- 
ful kindness  in  sending  me  the  touching  and  beautiful  memoir  of  your 
uol)le-hearted  and  high-souled  brother.  I  have  read  it,  I  need  not  say,  with 
loving  reverence  for  the  writer,  and  with  tender  respect  for  the  memory  of 
him  to  whom  you  have  paid  this  true  and  brotherly  tribute — true,  because 
it  comes  from  the  brother  who  knew  him  best,  and  brotherly,  because  to 
know  him  best  was  to  love  him  most. 

"  I  shall  have  great  pleasure  in  placing  the  bound  copy  of  the  memoir  in 
our  college  library. 

'•  Y'es,  the  great  and  good  Professor  Henry,  at  once  the  apostle  and  Nestor 
of  American  science,  has  fallen  at  his  i^ost.  He  was  ready  and  waiting  for 
the  summons.  He  was  a  profound  Christian  as  well  as  a  profound  philoso- 
pher. Let  me  rather  say,  he  was  profound  in  his  Christian  faith  and 
experience  hecauxe  he  was  a  profound  philosojjher.  I  speak  from  personal 
knowledge  of  his  religious  sentiments  and  opinions,  as  he  always  conversed 
freely  with  me  on  these  high  themes. 

"  His  death  was  as  serene  as  his  life  was  noble.  It  was  my  privilege  to 
watch  and  v.'ait  by  his  side  as  he  calmly  yielded  up  his  spirit  into  the 
hands  of  the  '  faithful  Creator,'  whom  he  loved  and  served. 

"  To-day  I  shall  help  to  bury  his  remains  in  the  grave,  and  on  the  long 
to-momnr  I  shall  wake  to  a  sense  of  loss  which  will  be  to  me  irreparable. 
But  let  us  be  of  good  cheer,  for  the  sorrows  of  earth  are  transient  as  well  as 
its  joys. 

''  Ever  affectionately  yours, 

"JAMES  C.  WELLING." 


LIFE    OF    lilSllol'    I'INKNKV.  t>S'.) 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 

Convention  of  IHSO. 

It  w;is  iipparcut  before  the  meetiiij;-  of  the  Diocesan  Convention 
of  1880,  thiit  certain  matters  connected  with  the  action  of  the 
Standin<:;-  Committee  in  the  case  of  Mr.  "\Vm.  D.  Martin,  a  pos- 
tulant for  holy  orders,  and  that  of  the  Rev.  Herbert  13. 
Smythe,  deacon,  a  candidate  for  priest's  orders,  would  be  brought 
before  the  body.  The  prescribed  testimonials  in  these  cases, 
signed  by  the  rector  and  vestry  of  Mt.  Calvary  Church,  Balti- 
more, had  been  laid  before  the  Standing  Committee  some  months 
prior  to  the  meeting  of  the  convention.  It  was  well  known  that 
the  committee  had  declined  to  act  favorably  upon  these  cases, 
and  had  withheld  the  "  certificates  "  of  satisfaction  and  recom 
meudation  reipiired  by  the  canons  to  be  presented  to  the  Bishop 
for  the  admission  of  the  one  as  a  postulant,  and  of  the  other  as 
a  candidate  for  priests  orders. 

It  is  no  part  of  the  purpose  or  of  the  province  of  the  writer  to 
enter  on  any  discussion  of  the  powers  and  functions  of  Standing 
Committees.  As  constitv^ted  under  the  general  and  diocesan 
enactments,  with  their  duties  prescribed  and  regulated  by  the 
canons,  they  form  a  co-ordinate  department  in  the  Church  for 
administrations  in  certain  matters  which,  l)y  sjiecitic  provisions, 
are  committed  to  them  for  theii-  independent  action. 

Their  powers  and  functions  preliminary  to  all  ordinations  to 
the  sacred  ministry  are  most  important  and  responsible.  No 
postulant  for  candidateship,  and  no  candidate  for  holy  orders 
can  be  received  by  the  Bishop  until,  in  eitlier  case,  the  party  has 
presented  to  the  committee  certain  prescribed  testimonials,  and 
has  received  from  the  committee  a  certificate  of  their  approval 
and  recommendation.  They  are  also  constituted  as  a  council  of 
advice  to  the  Bishop  whenever  theii-  advice  is  asked  or  needt-il. 
In  all  cases  of  ecclesiastical  trial  in  the  diocese,  they  are  reipiu-ed 
to  frame  and  make  to  the  Bishop  "a  i:)resentment "  for  judicial 
investigation  by  the  ecclesiastical  court.  Durmg  a  vacancy  in 
the  Episcopate  they  are  empowered  to  act  as  the  ecclesiastical 
authority  of  the  diocese,  and  do  all  acts  of  admhiistration  excei)t 
those  of  a  strictly  Episcopal  character;  also,  during  any  pro- 
longed absence  of  the  Bishop  from  the  diocese,  they  ciui  act, 
under  his  rescript,  as  the  ecclesiastical  authority.  Moreover, 
they  have  to  act  upon  the  papers  of  all  Bishops-elect  during 
certain  intervals  in  the  sessions  of  the  general  convention. 


290  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   PINKNEY. 

It  is  very  clear,  therefore,  that  they  are  vested  with  most 
sacred  trusts,  and  are  under  the  gravest  obligations  to  be  con- 
scientious, fair,  and  faithful  in  all  matters  committed  to  them. 
"While  they  may  err  in  judgment,  and  be  not  free  from  prejudices, 
it  is  to  be  presumed  that  they  "will  act  with  all  due  regard  to 
law,  and  under  the  solemn  sense  of  their  responsibility  to  the 
Church. 

By  the  constitution  of  the  General  Church  it  is  required  that 
in  every  diocese  there  shall  be  a  Standing  Committee.  In  Mary- 
land there  is  the  constitutional  provision  that  the  committee  shall 
be  composed  of  presbyters  only,  seven  in  number,  elected  by  the 
convention  at  its  annual  sessions,  to  which  bodj'  the  committee 
"annually  make  report  of  their  official  acts."  They  are  responsi- 
ble to  the  Church  and  to  the  convention  for  their  decisions  and  acts. 
If  they  are  found  or  believed  to  have  transcended  their  powers, 
or  to  have  failed  in  their  high  trusts  and  duties,  the  membership 
of  the  committee  can  be  changed  by  the  convention  at  the  annual 
elections.  That  is  the  only  remedy  which  the  Church  provides  for 
any  real  or  supposed  malfeasance  in  office.  The  old  committee 
becomes  a  body  defu^nct  when  the  convention  proceeds  to  con- 
summate an  election  for  the  ensviing  year  :  ancl  the  only  way  in 
which  past  grievances  can  be  corrected  and  theu-  avoidance  in  the 
future  secured  is  by  a  reconstruction  of  the  committee  in  its 
membership  by  the  convention.  As  this  power  resides  in  the 
convention  so  in  that  bod}'  rests  the  ultimate  responsibility. 

It  was,  therefore,  enth-ely  proper  for  those  in  the  diocese  who 
believed  that  the  Standing  Committee  had  exceeded  their  powers 
and  failed  in  theii-  duty  in  certain  cases  which  had  been  before 
them,  during  the  year  for  which  they  had  been  elected,  to  call 
attention,  jDrior  to  the  meeting  of  the  convention,  to  the  matters 
complained  of,  and  recommend  a  material  change  in  the  member- 
ship of  the  committee.  This  was  done  in  a  cu'cular  issued  l)y 
"  a  committee  of  gentlemen,  representing  an  influential  meeting 
both  of  the  clergy  and  laity  of  the  city  of  Baltimore."  The 
cii'cular  was  plain  and  strong  in  its  statement  of  the  facts,  as  they 
were  understood.  It  was  entirely  respectful  in  tone.  It  claimed 
to  be  issued,  as  they  declare,  "  simply  because  we  feel  that  a  prin- 
ciple vital  to  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  the  Church  is  at  stake 
in  this  matter."  The  circular  was  entitled  "  An  Appeal  for  Justice 
and  Fair  Play  in  the  Diocese  of  Maryland,"  and  was  addressed 
"  to  the  members  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  Dio- 
cese of  Maryland,  and  more  especially  to  the  clerical  and  lay 
deputies  to  the  convention  of  the  Church  about  to  assemble  in 
the  city  of  Baltimore."  The  circular  in'esented  the  names  of  four 
new  members  to  be  voted  for  in  the  committee. 

It  was  clear,  therefore,  that  the  floor  of  the  convention  would 
become  the  arena  for  a  disturbuio-  contest  toucliino-  this  matter. 


LIFE    OF    lilSHol-    riNKXKV.  291 

The  writer  refers  to  it  here,  and  sul»sc<|ii('iitly  to  a  similar  case  of 
graver  character,  only  so  far  as  Bishoj)  Pinkxkv,  in  liis  dtlice  as 
bishop  and  in  his  position  as  the  presiding  officer  of  the  conven- 
tion, became  connected  with  these  cases  and  a  hke  case  that 
occurred  in  the  year  preceding  the  session  of  the  convention  in 
1882.  The  writer  does  not  pretend  to  sit  in  judgment  upon  the 
acts  of  the  committee  or  on  the  proceedings  of  the  convention. 
All  that  he  is  called  to  do  is  to  present  the  facts  as  tliey  1)ore  upon 
the  administration  of  the  Bishop  in  the  line  of  his  duties  as  bishop 
and  as  the  president  of  the  convention. 

On  the  first  day  of  the  session  of  the  Convention  in  ]\Iay.  1880, 
Mr.  Bernard  Carter  presented  a  memorial*  from  tlie  rector  and 
vestry  of  Mt.  Calvary  Church.  Baltimore,  the  puri)ort  of  which 
was  understood  to  be  to  "reflect  "  upon  the  Standing  Committee 
for  their  failure  to  act  favorably  upon  the  applications  of  these 
gentlemen,  already  referred  to,  whose  testimonials  from  the 
rector  and  vestry  of  that  church  had  been  before  the  com- 
mittee. 

This  memorial  was  ruled  out  of  order  by  the  president  on  the 
ground  that  it  was  calling  into  cpiestion  acts  which  came  specially 
and  exclusively  within  the  province  of  the  Standing  Committee 
and  over  which  acts  the  convention  had  no  power  or  control.  A 
somewhat  fuller  statement  of  the  Bishop's  riding  is  contained  in 
the  report  of  these  proceedings  in  the  Baltimore  (Jhnrc/i  \i'iris 
to  the  effect  that  the  Bishop  "  stated  that  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee, against  wliOf?e  action  this  memorial  was  directed,  is  created 
by  a  canon  over  which  this  convention  has  no  power  ;  it  is  clothed 
with  functions  which  this  convention  cannot  touch ;  it  is  called 
to  exercise  a  discretion  with  which  the  convention  cannot  inter- 
fere ;  and  the  whole  sul)ject  therefore  was  out  of  order." 

Mr.  Carter  appealed  from  the  decision  of  the  chair,  called  for 
a  vote  by  orders,  and  was  proceeding  to  debate  the  api)eal  when 
he  was  called  to  order  by  a  lay  delegate.  The  chaii-  decided  that 
debate  on  the  appeal  was  not  in  order.  A  motion  was  nnide  to 
lay  the  appeal  on  the  tal)le,  and,  pending  this  motion,  the  conven- 
tion adjourned  by  a  vote  of  ayes  and  noes.  On  the  morning  of 
the  next  day,  Mr.  Carter  rose  to  ''  a  (piestion  of  privilege,"  and 
stated  that  "  the  uniform  practice  of  the  convention  had  been  to 
debate  an  appeal,"  and  that  such  was  the  uniform  parliamentary 
usage. 

The  Bishop  adhered  to  his  decision,  and  declared  the  j  in  "per 
business  then  before  the  convention  was  the  motion  to  lay  the 
appeal  on  the  table  :  and  so  the  appeal  was  laid  uikui  the  table 
by  a  majority  of  both  orders. 

In  1880  there  was  no  rule  of  order  prescribing  tlw  time  for  the 


*  See  Jovu-ual  of  1880,  p.  39. 


292  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PIXKNEY. 

Standing  Committee  to  make  theii*  ofl&cial  report  to  the  convention.* 
But  as  twelve  o'clock  noon  of  the  second  day  of  the  session  is  the 
time  appointed  for  going  into  the  election  of  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee for  the  ensuing  year,  the  proper  time  for  such  report 
would  be  somewhere  previous  to  the  election  of  the  new  com- 
mittee. At  this  convention,  the  report  of  the  committee  did  not 
get  before  the  body  until  after  that  election  ;  and  hence  it  was 
the  report  of  a  committee  which  had  in  fact  already  ceased  to 
be  in  life  and  tenure.  However,  at  the  evening  session  of  the 
second  day,  the  report  was  presented  to  the  convention,  in  which 
there  was  no  reference  or  statement  respecting  the  action  or  non- 
action of  the  committee  in  the  cases  of  Messrs.  Martin  and 
Smythe.  It  was  moved  by  a  clerical  member  of  the  convention 
that  the  report  be  recommitted  to  the  committee  "  for  a  report 
of  all  their  official  acts  ;  "  for  which,  as  a  substitute,  by  another 
clerical  meml:)er,  it  was  moved  "•  that  the  report  of  the  Standing 
Committee  be  recommitted,  with  instructions  to  report  their 
proceedmgs  in  the  case  of  Mr.  "William  D.  Martin  and  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Smythe.  and  the  reasons  for  theii'  action." 

While  these  motions  were  under  consideration,  a  clergyman, 
who  had  been  a  member  of  the  committee  for  that  year,  stated 
that  *'■  it  had  been  the  custom  and  the  mvariable  usage,  since  I 
have  (he  had)  been  a  member,  to  record  everything  of  positive 
action  that  was  done.  "When  matters  were  brought  before  us, 
unless  some  positive  action  was  taken  regarding  them  favorably, 
it  was  expected  that  no  notice  of  them  should  be  taken  in  our 
reports." 

At  this  stage  a  motion  Avas  made  bj'  a  clerical  member  "  to  lay 
the  whole  matter  on  the  table,"  on  which  motion  a  lay  delegate 
called  for  the  vote  by  ayes  and  noes.  Pending  action  upon  this 
motion,  the  convention  adjourned.  On  the  next  day  when  the 
motion  to  lay  on  the  table  came  up,  '•  in  answer  to  an  inquu-y 
from  a  delegate,  the  chair  ruled  that  if  the  motion  to  lay  on  the 
table  was  carried,  it  would  carry  the  whole  subject."  The  motion 
to  lay  on  the  table  was  carried  by  a  vote  of  ayes  and  noes. 

On  the  last  day  of  the  session  with  the  Aiew  of  obAdating  like 
sources  of  comi^lamt  touching  the  acts  of  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee, a  clerical  member  offered  the  following  resolution,  which 
was  adopted  and  referred  to  the  committee  on  canons,  to  report 
at  the  next  convention  (1881) : 

"  Renolved,  That  the  Standing  Gonimittee,  in  case  of  their  refusing  favor- 
able action  upon  papers  submitted  to  them,  and  not  withdrawn  by  those 
presenting  them,  shall  report  to  the  conventimi  such  refusal,  and  the 
reasons,  so  far  as  they  think  best,  upon  which  such  refusal  is  grounded." 

*  By  a  new  rule  of  order  the  Standing  Committee  make  their  report  on  the 
first  day  of  the  Session. 


LIFE    OF   DISHOr   PIXKXEY.  293 

Just  before  the  finul  adjournment  in  18H()  tlie  l{cv.  Dr.  TlioniuK 
Richie,  of  New  York,  who,  as  professor  in  tlm  General  Tlieo 
logical  Seminary,  retained  his  seat  as  a  member  of  the  body, 
presented  a  protest  signed  by  himself  an«l  others,  lK)tli  of  the 
clergy  and  laity,  against  the  action  of  the  convention  in  its 
"■refusal  to  receive  the  memorial  presented  by  the  rector  and 
vestrymen  of  Mt.  Calvary  Church;"  and  was  i)roceeding  to  dis- 
cuss the  purjiort  and  grounds  of  the  ])rotest,  when  it  was  moved 
by  a  clerical  member  ''that  the  papei-  l)e  not  received."  For  tliis 
motion  a  lay  delegate  offered  "as  a  substitute,  that  the  ])ai)(r  l)e 
jn-inted  in  the  Journal."  This  substitute  was  lost,  and  tlie  motion 
that  the  jjaper  be  not  received  was  carried  l)y  a  \ote  of  <nji'.'<  and 

So  amidst  much  confusion  and  excitement  the  Convention  of 
1880  adjourned  sine  die. 

In  order  to  complete  the  naiTative  of  proceedings  comiected 
with  the  Standing  Committee  agitation,  it  is  necessary  to  refer  to 
what  took  place  in  regard  to  it  in  the  Convention  of  1881,  and 
also  in  that  of  1882,  when  all  further  contests  about  the  matter 
ceased. 

The  reference  to  these  occurrences  and  the  correspondence 
that  grew  out  of  them  is  made,  not  to  revive  any  old  feeling  of 
discord  and  contention  in  the  diocese,  but  simply  to  state,  without 
comment,  the  facts  as  they  bore  upon  the  administration  of  Bishop 
PiNKNEY  in  his  Episcopal  office. 

The  committee  on  canons,  to  Avhom  had  been  referred  the 
resolution  of  the  last  day  of  the  session  of  1880,  made  theii' 
rejjort  in  1881,  as  follows  : 

"  That  after  careful  study  of  the  subject,  they  are  couviuced  that  such 
action  is  not  desirable,  f(jr  the  followiusjj  reasons,  viz  : 

"1.  In  the  fiirst  place.it  would  create,  m  the  public  mind,  nonjevtnreti 
unfavorable  to  the  applicant. 

"2.  Again,  it  would  oiivnaion,  in  the  convention,  needless  and  invidious 
discussions. 

"3.  Again,  it  wo;ild  tend  t(j  foment  and  foster  jealousies  and  rancors  in 
the  Church. 

"  4.  It  would  array  the  authorities  of  the  diocese  in  unnecessary  antago- 
nisms, and  so  complicate  the  administration  of  the  diocese. 

"5.  It  would  seem  to  reflect  ui>on  the  competency  and  fidelity  of  the 
Committee,  and  to  cpiestiou  the  wisdom  of  the  Church  in  constituting  them 
the  judges  of  the  fitness  of  the  postulant  to  be  admitted  as  a  candidate  fi>r 
Holy  Orders. 

"6.  A  very  serious  objection  to  siich  a  change  is  also  to  be  found  in  the 
fact  that  it  would  compel  each  member  of  the  Standing  Committee  to  give 
his  own  views  and  reasons  for  action  in  every  case;  and  so  we  should  have 
as  many  explanations  as  there  are  nuMubers  of  that  committee.  We  should 
see  the  convention  becoming  the  arbiter,  in  matters  assigned  by  the  general 
and  diocesan  can(ms  of  the  Church  to  a  body  especially  clothed  with 
authoritv  to  determine  (pialitications  in  morals  and  ductrine. 

"  We  would  further  refuse  the  change  proposed,  because  it  would  prepare 
the  wav  for  a  gradual  invasion  ui)<)n  the  province  of  the  Standing  Committee 


294  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKXEY. 

iu  all  their  fuuctious,  as  a  council  of  advice  to  the  Bishop  ;  and  would  be  in 
opposition  to  a  well  established,  and,  for  the  most  part,  happy  usage.  It 
would  l)e  opposed  to  the  prevailing  practice  of  the  Church  in  other  dioceses; 
and  there  is  nothing,  iu  the  oisinion  of  the  committee,  to  warrant  the  pro- 
posed change,  which  wovrid  be  attended  by  such  advantages  as  to  compensate 
for  the  above-named  evils.  They  therefore  recommend  the  adoption  of  the 
following  resolution,  and  ask  to  be  discharged  from  the  further  considera- 
tion of  the  subject." 

Their  resolution  was,  "  that  the  ameuclment  to  the  canon  on  the 
Standing-  Committee  be  not  adopted."  For  this  resolution  a 
substitute — the  original  resolution  referred  to  the  committee — 
was  offered,  but  did  not  prevail :  and  after  a  motion  to  recommit 
the  matter  to  the  committee,  '•'  for  report  next  year,"  the  whole 
matter  was  laid  upon  the  table. 

The  matter,  however,  came  up  again  towards  the  close  of  the 
Convention  of  1881,  in  a  somewhat  modified  form  under  a  resolu- 
tion offered  by  a  clerical  member,  "  that  it  is  desirable,  whenever 
the  Standing  Committee  shall  find  it  necessary,  to  refuse  consent 
to  an  applicant  for  admission  as  a  candidate  for  holy  orders,  or 
for  ordination  to  the  priesthood,  that  they  should  give  a  reason,, 
or  reasons,  for  their  refusal  to  the  ajjplicant  and  to  the  Bishop  :  " 
and  this  resolution  was  referred  to  the  committee  on  canons  to 
report  to  the  Convention  of  1882. 

When  the  Convention  met  in  May,  1882,  the  committee  on 
canons  presented  their  report  upon  the  resolution  in  regard  to 
the  Standing  Committee  that  had  been  referred  to  them  at  the 
close  of  the  Convention  of  1881.  The  report  was  signed  by  four 
of  the  five  members  that  constituted  the  committee,  and  presents 
so  fully  and  strongly  the  grounds  on  which  they  declined  to 
recommend  any  action  by  the  convention  in  the  matter  that  the 
report  is  tranferred  to  these  pages : 

*'  The  committee  on  canons,  to  whom  was  referred  the  resolution  (on  page 
66  of  Journal  of  1881)  stating  that  it  is  desirable,  whenever  the  Standing 
Committee  shall  find  it  necessary  to  refuse  consent  to  an  applicant  for 
admission  as  a  candidate  for  holy  orders,  or  for  ordination  to  the  priesthood, 
that  they  should  give  a  reason,  or  reasons,  for  their  refusal  to  the  applicant 
and  to  the  Bishop,  respectfully  report  that  on  inquiry  they  find  that  the 
record  of  proceedings  of  the  Standing  Committee  contains  all  the  p(jsitive 
action  of  the  committee,  and  is  accessible  to  those  who  have  a  right  to  know 
what  the  committee  may  have  done  upon  any  c^uestion.  The  reasons  for 
such  action  are  never  given  as  a  part  of  their  proceedings.  In  fact,  they 
may  be  as  various  as  the  members  of  the  committee.  While  one  member 
may  think  the  action  of  the  committee  was  based  upon  the  causes  which 
seem  to  his  mind  to  have  been  conclusive,  the  others  may  have  reached  the 
same  result  from  very  different  causes.  In  legislative  bodies,  when  in  exec- 
utive session,  no  member  is  permitted  to  tell  what  has  taken  place,  unless . 
the  injunction  of  secrecy  be  removed  by  a  vote  of  the  body,  which  wise  and 
salutary  provision  enables  members  to  be  more  open  and  free  in  their  dis- 
cussions than  would  otherwise  Ije  the  case  :  and  matters  of  a  confidential 
character,  made  known  in  bodies  of  this  description,  are  regarded  as  privi- 
leged communications. 


LIFE   OF   mSllol'    I'INKNFA'.  'i'.l.j 

"  There  is  no  more  reason  why  a  Ktanchn^j  Conunittoe  shmihl  h«  roquireil 
to  state  the  reasons  which  influence  the  minds  of  the  members  than  a  polit- 
ical body  of  the  character  tt)  which  reference  has  been  nnide. 

"  The  canon  of  the  general  convention  on  the  snltject  jjrovides  that  the 
Standinii  Committee  shall  be  a  council  of  advice  to  the  Bishop.  They  sliall 
be  sununoued  on  the  requisition  of  the  liishop  whenever  he  shall  wish  fi>r 
their  advice  :  and  they  may  meet  of  their  own  accord,  and  a^<reeably  to  their 
own  rules,  when  they  may  be  disposed  to  advise  the  Hishop. 

"  The  committee  have  not  Vteen  able  to  learn  that  the  Standing  Conmiitteo 
has  withheld  from  the  Bishop  any  information  desired  by  him  in  regard  to 
applicants  for  admission  to  holy  orders,  or  for  ordination  to  the  priesthood, 
or  even  to  the  diaconate,  to  which  the  resolution  does  n(jt  refer ;  an<l  they 
are  unwilling  to  believe  that  when  such  close  and  intinuite  confidential 
relations  exist  as  l)etween  the  Bishop  and  his  c<juncil  of  advice,  any  infor- 
mation proper  to  be  known  wcmld  be  withheld ;  while  in  n-gard  to  ajtjili- 
cants,  the  committee  think  that  it  is  not  proper  that  a  feeling  of  distrust 
should  be  fostered  in  their  minds  agiiinst  the  (tfficers  selected  by  this  c(jn- 
vention  to  discharge  the  delicate,  and  at  times,  painful,  duties  imposed  upon 
them.  They  should  rather  l)e  taught  that,  tlnmgh  unexplained,  some  good 
cause  must  exist  for  their  action  which,  if  the  good  of  the  Church  required 
it,  will  in  the  wise  discretion  exercised  by  the  committee.be..  made  known 
to  them.  The  committee  are  of  oi)inionthat  no  legislation  is  needed  <ju  this 
subject,  and  submit  the  following  resolution  : 

"  lie.soliV'd,  That  the  committee  be  discharged  £rom  tlie  fiu-thcr  ccjnsidera- 
tiou  of  the  subject." 

For  which  resolutiou  a  clerical  member  oftered,  as  a  sif//sti(itte, 
a  resolution  to  the  same  effect  as  that  against  which  the  com- 
mittee had  reported,  but  with  the  additional  clause  that  "  when- 
ever the  Standing  Committee  shall  decide  that  a  testimonial  is 
not  satisfactory,  they  shall  give  to  the  party,  or  parties,  signing 
such  testimonials  a  reason,  or  reasons,  why  the  testimonial  is  not 
satisfactory."  Upon  the  question  being  taken  on  this  siil)stitute 
after  discussion,  it  was  lost  by  a  vote  of  orders,  and  the  com- 
mittee on  canons  stood  discharged  from  the  further  consideration 
of  the  subject.* 

The  matter,  however,  was  still  before  the  convention  in  another 
form.  Immediately  after  the  report  by  the  Standing  Committee 
of  their  official  acts  had  been  read  by  the  secretary,  on  the  first 
day  of  the  session,  a  resolution  was  offered  bj'  a  clerical  member 
and  carried,  "  that  the  report  of  the  Standing  Committee  be 
referred  to  a  committee  of  two  clergymen  and  one  layman,  to 
report  to  this  convention,"  to  which  was  added  afterwards  a 
resolution  that  "the  committee  of  three,""  on  the  report,  "be  author- 
ized to  have  access  to  the  minutes  and  records  ""  of  the  Standing 
Committee,  and  report  on  the  next  day.  The  majority  of  this 
committee  (one  clergyman  and  the  one  layman)  reported  on  the 
next  day  that  upon  examination  of  the  report  of  the  Standing 
Committee  with  its  book  of  records,  they  found  "  that  the  com- 
mittee had  substantially  reported  to  the  convention  all  its  official 


*  See  Journal  of  1882,  pp.  37  and  10,  and  pp.  oG.  ~)S. 


296  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKXEY.  ' 

acts  during  the  past  year,  as  eouteraplated  by  the  cauou  of  the 
diocese  in  such  case  made  and  provided."  They  therefore  asked 
to  be  discharged  from  tlie  further  consideration  of  the  subject. 
The  other  clerical  member  presented  a  minority  report  to  the 
eftect  that  the  Standing  Committee  had  failed  to  '••  keep  a  faithful 
record  of  all  theii*  proceedings  "  as  requu-ed  by  the  canon,  and  in 
the  report  of  their  "  official  acts "'  had  failed  to  include  their 
"  action,  negative  in  form,"  in  relation  especially  to  a  candidate  for 
holy  orders,  whose  case  had  "  awakened  deepest  interest  through- 
out the  diocese."  *  To  this  minority  report  were  appended  the 
following  resolutions : 

^^  Hemlred,  That  the  Stauding  Committee  are  respectfiiUy  requested,  iu 
their  auuual  reports  to  the  conveutiou,  to  give  more  exact  and  careftil  state- 
ments, and  names  and  dates. 

'*  He-solved.  That  by  the  words,  '  their  official  acts,'  in  the  cauou  of  1876. 
directing  them  to  report,  are  to  be  understood  that  all  acts  (save  such  as  in 
formal  council  of  advice  with  the  Bishop  may  be  counted  confidential;  and 
proceedings  are  to  be  included,  whether  in  form  they  be  negative  or  affirm- 
ative. + 

By  the  negative  action  of  the  convention,  at  the  close  of  the 
second  day  of  the  session,  these  resolutions  failed,  and  the  dis- 
cussions touching  the  Standing  Committee  terminating  with,  as 
is  usual  in  such  cases,  disaj^pointment  on  one  side  and  satisfac- 
tion on  the  other. 

These  occiu'ences  were  of  a  very  exciting  and  disturbing  char- 
acter. They  are  here  so  fully  referred  to  because  grave  exception 
was  taken  to  the  rulings  and  declarations  of  the  Bishoj)  as  the 
presiding  officer  of  the  convention.  In  the  one  case  of  deciding 
that  "  debate  upon  an  appeal  was  not  in  order,"  the  president 
of  the  convention  undoubtedly  erred.  The  questions  which  arose 
on  points  of  order  were  somewhat  perplexmg ;  and  a  presiding 
officer  not  versed  in  parliamentary  matters  is,  on  the  spur  of  the 
moment,  liable  to  make  decisions  that  may  not  stand  the  test  of 
strict  jDarliamentary  law  or  usage.  Bishop  Pinkxey  did  not  claim, 
as  he  said,  to  be  '"  infallible,"  and  it  is  well  known  that,  in  his 
desu-e  to  be  fail"  to  all,  he  frequently  allowed  a  freedom  and  range 
of  deljate  not  accordant  with  strict  parliamentary  rules,  and  not 
always  respectful  to  himself.  In  more  instances  than  one.  Bishop 
Whittingham,  whose  ability  and  force  as  a  presiding  officer  were 
so  marked,  was  thought  by  some  to  have  exceeded  the  powers  of 
a  presiding  officer,  and  to  have  erred  in  his  decisions  in  certain 
cases.  And  it  is  entirely  within  the  province  of  a  legislative  body 
to  decline  to  receive  a  memorial  or  protest,  when  there  is  ground 
to  believe  that  such  a  paper  reflects  upon  the  legitimate  acts  of 
the  body,  or  calls  into  question  the  acts  of  a  co-ordinate  depart- 


*See  Journal,  1882,  pp.  52,  53. 

t  The  case  of  Mr.  Hutchius  Chew  Bishop. 


LIFE    OF    BIS!I()1'    I'INKNFY.  •_".>" 

meiit  over  wliic'li,  as  in  tlif  convt'iition.  llicrc  was  no  ]i(t\\«r  ImvoihI 
that  of  continuing  to  elect,  or  refusing  to  eleet,  its  nicmbers  under 
the  jn'ovisions  of  the  canons.  Whether  it  is  well  and  wise  in 
certain  cases  to  decline  to  receive  such  pajx-rs,  the  Ixxly  must 
determine  for  itself  under  its  own  responsihility.  This  was 
notal)ly  the  case  in  the  General  Convention  of  iSd'i.  when  IJishop 
Hopkins,  of  Vermont,  in  the  House  of  Jiishops.  and  Judge 
Chaml)ers,  of  ^Maryland,  in  the  House  of  Deputies,  oti'ered  jtrotestK 
against  certain  acts,  respectively,  of  those  bodies.  Their  jjrotests 
were  not  received  and  could  not  be  recorded.  A  legislative  body 
is  not  criminated  by  such  acts. 

Notwithstanding  the  agitations  touching  their  acts  of  the  pre- 
<3eding  year,  the  old  Standing  Committee,  without  any  change 
in  the  membership,  was  re-elected  l)y  the  convention  for  the 
ensuing  year.  An  effort  was  made  to  change  the  composition 
of  the  committee  by  the  jDresentation  of  four  new  names  to  be 
voted  for,  l)ut  without  success. 

It  was  felt  and  claimed  by  the  parties  aggrieved  that.  l)y  the 
acts  of  the  Standing  Committee  m  these  cases  complainetl  of.  and 
by  the  course  of  the  convention  in  its  refusal  to  take  any  action 
in  those  matters,  and  bj^  the  re-election  of  the  same  mendjers  to 
constitute  the  committee,  a  great  wrong  had  been  inflicted  upon 
the  gentlemen  whose  testimonials  had  been  before  the  committee, 
and  ujion  the  rector  and  the  vestrymen  of  the  church,  by  whom 
those  testimonials  had  been  signed  and  presented. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  wias  claimed  that  by  then-  powers  and 
responsibilities  under  the  canons,  the  Standing  Committee  was 
not  a  mere  perfunctory  body,  to  act  as  the  simple  medium  of 
transmission  of  certain  statements  laid  before  them  ;  that  in  the 
solemn  testimonials  which  they  themselves  were  to  give  resi)ect- 
ing  parties  seeking  the  pri\ilege  of  becoming,  in  the  one  case,  a 
jDOstulant,  and  in  the  other  a  candidate  for  holy  orders,  it  was 
necessarily  implied  that  they  were  to  exercise  such  consideration 
and  judgment  as  to  the  nature  and  sutticiency  of  the  testimony 
before  them  as  would  enable  them  to  say  that  they  believed  the 
jDcrsons  worthy  to  be  admitted  as  postulants,  or  candidates  for 
holy  orders.  Otherwise,  it  was  perfectly  nugatory  to  have  them 
interpose  in  any  way  between  such  postulants  and  candidates 
and  the  Bishop. 

And  if,  at  the  close  of  the  year  for  which  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee was  elected,  it  was  found  or  believed  that  in  any  cases  the 
committee  had  acted  from  misjudgment.  or  from  partisan  feelings 
and  prejudices,  then,  when  nominations  at  the  time  of  a  new 
election  were  to  be  made,  it  was  competent  on  the  part  of  any 
2)erson  or  persons  making  such  nominations,  to  state  on  the  floor 
of  the  convention  the  grounds  on  which  they  were  made.  This 
would  seem  to  be  the  only  way  by  which  real  or  supposed  wrongs 
«ould  be  rectified. 


298  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    FINKXEY. 

Tlirougliout  those  contests.  Bishop  Pinkxey  abstained  from 
pronouncing  any  opinion  upon  the  course  of  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee in  these  matters.  He  received  then-  action  as  tinal  in  the 
cases.  He  had  no  right  to  interfere,  and  no  power  to  control  or 
change  the  acts  of  the  Standing  Committee. 

Intense  interest,  with  no  little  excitement,  was  imparted  to 
these  proceedings  of  the  Convention  of  1SS2.  by  the  fact  that,  dur- 
ing the  preceding  conventional  year,  the  Standing  Committee  had 
declined  to  act  favorably  upon  the  case  of  Mr.  H.  C.  Bishop,  a 
colored  candidate  for  deacon's  orders,  whose  testimonials  had 
been  laid  before  the  committee.  These  testimonials,  as  requu'ed 
by  the  canons,  were  one  from  the  rector  and  vestry  of  Mt.  Cal- 
vary Church,  and  one  signed  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hodges,  rector  of 
St.  Paul's,  Baltimore,  and  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Richey,  2>i"ofessor  of 
ecclesiastical  history  in  the  General  Theological  Seminary,  N.  Y. 
Mr.  Bishop  had  been  a  candidate  for  orders  for  the  three  years 
required  by  the  canons,  and  had  completed  his  course  of  studies 
for  the  ministry  at  the  General  Theological  Seminary.  There 
were  no  charges  or  imputations  against  him  as  to  his  religious 
and  moral  character  and  life.  It  seems  to  have  been  with  the 
Standing  Committee  solely  the  question  as  to  the  sufHciency  of 
the  testimonials  before  them,  to  justify  them  in  giving  the  requu'ed 
certificate  to  the  Bishop  for  his  ordination. 

In  reply  to  Mr.  H.  C.  Bishop's  application  to  the  Standing 
Committee  to  know  what  action  had  been  taken  in  his  case,  he 
received  the  following  letter  from  the  secretary  of  the  committee  : 

"  St.  Bakxabas  Rectoky, 
"  Baltimoke,  December  29,  1881. 
••Mr.  H.  C.  Bishop. 

•'Dear  Sir:  In  reply  to  your  note  of  the  •28tli,  asking  what  action  the 
Standing  Committee  took  upon  your  application  to  be  recommenclecl  to  the 
Bishoji  for  admission  to  the  holy  order  of  deacon ,  I  send  you  a  copy  of  the 
preamble  and  resolution  passed  : 

"  *  Whereas,  Title  I,  canon  6,  section  4,  subsection  5.  requires  the  Standing 
Committee,  in  recommending  a  candidate  for  ordination  to  the  diaconate, 
to  certify,  their  names  being  thereunder  written,  that  the  candidate  hath 
laid  before  them  satisfactory  testimonials  that  for  the  space  of  three  years 
last  past  he  hath  not  written,  taught,  or  held  anything  contrary  to  the 
doctrine  or  discipline  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  ;  and 

"  '  Whereas,  The  testimonials  laid  before  the  committee  by  Mr.  Hutchins 
C.  Bishop,  that  he  hath  not,  for  the  sjiace  of  three  years  last  past,  written, 
taught,  or  held  anything  contrary  to  the  doctrine  or  discipline  of  the  Prot- 
estant Eijiscopal  Church,  are  not  satisfactory:  therefore, 

"  '  Jhxoh'ed.  That  thf  Standing  Conuuittee  decline  for  the  present  to  pro- 
ceed to  recommend  Mr.  Hutchins  C.  Bishop  for  ordination  to  the  diaconate.' 

"As  we  keep  no  record  of  discussions,  I  do  not  feel  justified  in  under- 
taking to  give  the  reasons  for  the  passage  of  the  above  resolution. 
"  I  urn.  Yours  truly, 

•A.  P.  STRYKER." 


LIFE    OF    lilSHOl'    IMNKNT.Y.  'J'.l'.t 

The  Rev.  Ciilbraith  B.  Perry,  one  of  the  cler^ry  ,,r  Mt.  Culvary 
Churcli,  uuder  whose  pastoral  care  Mr.  H.  C.  Jj'isliop  had  l)eeu 
placed,  addressed  a  letter  to  Bishop  Pinknf.v  deploriii},'  the  act 
of  the  Standing  Committee,  and  asking  of  the  ]iisho])  what 
course  jMr.  H.  C.  Bishop  should  pursue  uuder  the  circumstances 
of  his  case. 

The  reply  of  Bishop  Pinkney  to  this  letter  is  given  because  it 
very  clearly  and  strongly  defines  his  jiosition  as  liishop,  with 
regard  to  the  action  or  non-action  favoralily  of  the  Standing 
Committee  on  all  such  matters  as  canonically  and  <'xclusiv<'ly  ranie 
before  them  for  determination  in  their  department.  His'  letter 
is  as  follows : 

■'  Kev.  Calbkaith  B.  Perry. 

"  Rev.  ani>  Dear  Brother:  It  is  not  my  i)i<)vince  to  sit  in  ju<lt,nut'nf  on 
the  action  of  the  Staudiuij;  Committee,  a  body  ealh'd  to  act  under  law,  and 
in  entire  indejjendence  of  the  ]?isho|).  They  have  a  discretion  in  their  action 
vestiHl  in  them  by  the  general  convention,  and  I  have  ui->  power  of  super- 
vision. I  am  not  admitted  to  their  eoiincil  board,  nor  shouhl  I  be.  You 
must  therefore  see,  upon  further  reflectiou,  that  your  reference  tome  iu  tbia 
junctitre  is  altogether  out  of  })laee.  I  endeavor  to  keep  within  my  province, 
and  should  esteem  it  a  gross  infraction  of  mj-  rights  if  iu  any  action  of  mine 
appeal  should  be  made  to  them.  What  I  could  not  tolerate  in  them  or 
others  iu  matters  strictly  Episcopal,  I  could  not  do  in  matters  placed  by  law 
in  the  jurisdiction  of  others. 

••Eespectfullv  yours, 

>•  W.  riNKNFA', 

"Jiinhop  of  Maryland.^'' 

Again,  subsequently  in  a  letter  to   the  Rev.  Mr.  C.  B.  Pei-ry, 

the  Bishop  more  fully  exjiresses  his  views  and  sentiments,  as  will 
be  seen  from  the  following  paragraphs  from  a  letter  to  him.  dated 
January  19,  1882  : 

"Now,  my  dear  brother,  what  the  law  makes  obligatory  on  me  I  always 
endeavor  to  perform  ;  but  in  a  case  where  the  constituted  authorities  are 
empowered  in  their  sole  discretion  to  do  a  thing  that  affects  a  candidate  for 
orders,  and  do  take  action  thereon,  what  direction  or  guidance  can  I  give, 
unless  it  \)e  to  counsel  him  to  abide  in  patience  ?  That  needs  no  counselling. 
It  is  not  for  me  to  presume  that  he  suffers  unjustly,  for  that  would  be  to 
invade  the  sole  prerogative  of  others,  nor  Avould  it  become  me  to  make  a  still 
further  presumption,  viz.,  that  what  has  been  done  has  not  been  well  done 
in  the  interest  of  the  Church,  for  that  would  be  a  not  less  unwarrantable 
invasion  of  i^rerogative. 

••  I  have  sympathy  for  him  because  of  the  action  of  the  connnittee.  deemed 
necessary  by  them,  and  have  expressed  it.     All  in  trouble  have  my  symjiathy. 

"  In  tile  present  case  the  committee  are  made  by  hiw  judges  of  the  dis- 
cretion they  are  called  to  exercise,  and  with  them  it  must  rest.  I  am  still 
clearly  of  the  opinion  that  I,  as  Bishop,  have  no  right  to  say  more,  or  do 
more,  than  I  have  said  and  done." 


300  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

Inhibition  of  Eev.  Mk.  Moktimek — Case  of  Mk.  W.  E.  Webb.     1880-'82. 

Very  soou  after  sole  jurisdiction  devolved  uj^ou  liim  by  the 
death  of  Bishop  Whittingham,  Bishop  Pixkney  felt  called  upon 
to  exercise  his  Ei)isco])al  authority  by  an  official  act  which,  while 
it  subjected  him  to  severe  strictures  from  some,  was  regarded  by 
others  as  a  wise  and  proper  exercise  of  his  Episcopal  prerogative. 
Towards  the  close  of  the  calendar  year  1879  he  issued  an  order 
inhibiting  the  Rev.  Alfred  G.  Mortimer,  of  the  Diocese  of  Penn- 
sylvania, from  officiating  within  the  Episcopal  jurisdiction  of  the 
Diocese  of  Maryland. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Mortimer  had  been  ordained  to  the  ministry  of 
the  Church  in  England.  Upon  his  removal  to  this  country  he 
became  connected  for  some  years  with  St.  Clement's  Church, 
Philadelphia.  St.  Clement's  was  noted  for  its  high  ritualistic 
teachings  and  practices.  Its  rector,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Prescott,  be- 
longed to  the  "  Order  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist,"  which  order, 
under  the  three  vows  of  "  poverty,  celibacy,  and  obedience,"  had 
been  established  in  England  some  years  before,  by  Father  Benson, 
of  Cowdey.  Under  these  vows  and  the  rules  of  the  order  the  mem- 
bers devoted  themselves  to  what  was  designated  the  "  religious 
life,''  to  conducting  revival  missions  and  to  holding  clerical  retreats. 

The  ritualistic  practices  in  St.  Clement's  Church  had  created 
considerable  excitement  in  the  Diocese  of  Pennsylvania,  had  been 
matter  of  complaint  and  of  action  in  the  convention  of  that  diocese, 
and  had  called  forth  from  Bishop  Stevens  an  admonition  to  dis- 
continue them  as,  •'  in  my  (his)  judgment,  irregular  and  injurious 
to  the  peace  and  welfare  of  the  Church."  * 

When  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mortimer  came  to  Baltimore,  in  the  Advent 
season  of  1879,  upon  the  invitation  of  the  rector  of  St.  Luke's 
Church  to  be  "  the  assistant  minister,"  he  brought  no  "  Letter 
Dimissory,"  the  official  transfer  requu-ed  by  the  canons,  to  the 
Bishop  of  Maryland.  It  appears  that  he  did  not  belong  to  the 
Order  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist,  but  having  been  connected,  if 
not  identified,  with  the  objectionable  ritualistic  teachings  and 
practices  in  St.  Clement's  Church,  Bishop  Pinkney  considered 
himself  justified  under  the  canons  f  iu  issuing  an  order  inhibiting 


*  See  report  of  Committee  of  Inqiiiiy.  ]).  30. 

tSee  Digest,  title  i,  canon  14,  §  ii,  und  §  vii,  subsections  1  and  2;  also 
title  ii,  canon  3,  §  ii. 


LIFE    OF    lUSIlDl'    IMNKNEY.  ^01 

or  iH-ohibitiiig  the  Rev.  :\Ir.  Mortimer  from  offieiiitiuj,'  williiu  the 
Diocese  of  Maryhiiul.  Before  doin^'  so,  however,  with  his  ik-cuk- 
tomed  care  and  coiisiderateness  he  hehl  an  iuterview  with  Mr. 
Mortimer,  and  called  his  attention  to  the  proceeding's  of  the  dit)- 
cesan  convention  of  Pennsylvania,  on  the  re])()rt  of  a  committee 
of  that  body  touchino-  the  matters  of  St.  Clement's  Cliurch,  and 
also  to  certain  appendices  attached  to  and  })rinted  in  the  Journal. 
In  a  letter  to  Bisliop  Pinkney,  dated  the  17th  December,  IHT'.I. 
Mr.  Mortimer  entered  ui)on  certain  explanations  toucliin^f  his  own 
views  and  practices  and  concerninj^-  the  action  of  the  convention 
of  the  Diocese  of  Pennsylvania  in  tlie  matters  com])l;iined  of.  As 
Bishop  Pinkney  was  not  satisfied  with  tlie  explanations  given,  and 
as  Mr.  Mortimer  brouoht  no  "  Letter  Dimissory  "  from  his  di<  )cesan, 
the  Bishop  issued  the  order  of  inhibition.  This  act  of  Bishop 
Pinkney's  created  no  little  excitement  in  the  Church,  g-ave  grave 
offence  in  some  quarters,  and  was  pronounced  l)y  the  rector  of 
St.  Luke's,  in  giving  the  notice  of  the  inhibition  to  his  congrega- 
tion, to  be  "unwise,  unkind,  uncharitable,  and  unjust." 

Episcopal  acts,  as  they  come  canonically  within  the  si)here  of 
those  discretionary  powers  which  a  Bishoj)  may  exercise,  will  be 
criticised,  and  will  l)e  api)roved  or  condennied  by  the  parties  in 
the  Church,  from  their  respective  standjjoints.  The  Bisho];)  must 
take  that  responsibility,  and  Bishop  Pinkney  did  not  hesitate  to 
do  so.  He  believed  that  his  act  was  justitial)le  under  the  canons 
of  the  Church,  and  that  it  was  his  duty,  not  only  under  the  can- 
ons, but  by  the  vow  at  his  Episcopal  consecration,  to  be  "  ready, 
with  all  faithful  diligence,  to  l)anish  and  cb'ive  away  from  the 
Church  all  erroneous  and  strange  doctrine  contrary  to  GOD'S 
word ;  and  both  privately  and  opeulj^  to  call  upon  and  encourage 
others  to  do  the  same."  *  Acting  under  the  solemn  sense  of  his 
responsibility  to  the  Church  and  clear  in  his  own  convictions  of 
duty,  he  W'as  prepared  to  abide  the  consequences,  whatever  they 
might  be,  in  respect  to  the  judgments  of  others  concerning  his  act. 

In  Bishop  Pinkney's  judgment,  the  case  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mor- 
timer was  a  very  plain  and  clear  one.  He  was  in^•ited  to  become 
•'  the  assistant  minister  "  of  a  church  in  Baltimore  :  he  brought 
with  him  no  "  Letter  Dimissory,'"  as  required  by  the  canons  ;  he 
labored  under  certain  imputations  res2)ecting  his  teachings  and 
practices  in  the  Diocese  of  Pennsylvania.  In  the  exercise,  thei-e- 
fore,  of  a  lawful  discretionary  power  under  the  can(ms.  the  Bishop 
issued  the  order  of  inhibition. 

It  may  be  well  to  state  for  the  information  of  those,  other  tlian 
the  clergy,  who  are  not  versed  in  the  canonical  regulations 
respectmg  the  ministry  of  the  Church,  that  every  clergyman  must 
hold  his  ecclesiastical  connection  with  some  of  the  dioceses  of  the 
General  Church  through  the  Bishop,  or  the  ecclesiastical  author- 

*  Consecrati(jn  office,  prayer  book. 


.302  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

ity  of  the  diocese  iu  tlie  case  of  a  vacaiicy  in  the  Episcopate.  In 
passing  from  one  Eijiscopal  jurisdiction  to  another  to  engage  in 
stated  or  permanent  ministrations,  he  must  take  Avith  him  the 
requu'ed  "  Letter  Dimissory,"  else  he  cannot  be  received,  or  be 
recognized  as  rightfully  and  canonically  engaged  in  such  minis- 
trations within  the  Episcopal  jurisdiction.  The  canonical  requii'e- 
ment,  however,  has  never  been  considered  as  disallowing  such 
occasional  ministrations  as  cii'cumstances  may  call  for,  and  mutual 
fellowship  in  the  one  Church  may  render  desirable,  in  the  case  of 
a  clergyman  passing  from  one  diocese  to  another,  or  briefly 
sojourning  in  any  one  of  the  dioceses  ;  though  even  in  the  case 
of  a  clergj-man  coming  temporarily  into  any  diocese,  if  under 
impvitation  of  having  elsewhere  been  guilty  of  any  crime  or  mis- 
demeanor, by  violation  of  the  canons  or  otherwise,  or  shall  mis- 
behave in  any  of  these  respects,  the  Bishop  may  forbid  him  to 
officiate  in  said  diocese.*  Even  where '•Parochial  Missions  " — 
which  have  recently  been  conducted  in  several  of  the  dioceses — 
are  to  be  held  by  clergymen,  as  ''  missioners,"  not  canonically  con- 
nected with  the  diocese,  it  is  in  such  cases  proper,  if  not  necessary, 
that  consent  should  be  given  by  the  Bishop,  or  the  ecclesiastical 
authority,  for  such  extraordinary  services. 

Bishop  PixKNEY  was  himself,  in  one  instance,  while  yet  a  pres- 
byter and  rector  of  Ascension  parish  in  "Washington,  brought  into 
very  unexpected  collision  with  Bishop  Meade,  of  Virginia,  by  only 
.an  occasional  ministration  in  that  diocese.  It  led  to  (juite  a  long 
corresjDondence  between  the  Bishop  and  the  rector  of  the  Ascen- 
sion.    The  circumstances  were,  briefly,  these  : 

In  the  church  congregations  in  Washington  quite  a  considerable 
number  of  the  members,  holding  office  under  the  General  Gov- 
ernment, or  temporarily  resident  in  the  city  for  public  business, 
still  retain  theii-  legal  residence  in  the  States  from  which  they 
come,  and  only  temporarily  withdraw  from  their  former  parochial 
connections.  Among  Dr.  Pinkney's  parishioners  in  Washington 
were  several  such  members  and  families.  During  summer  and  in 
A^acation  time  they  were  accustomed  to  go  to  their  homes.  One  of 
such  families  persuaded  Dr.  Pinkney  to  go  with  them  for  a  short 
recreation  into  Virginia.  The  parish  in  which  was  their  home 
residence  was  vacant,  had  been  vacant  for  more  than  a  year,  and 
had  no  other  services  than  those  of  a  lay-reader.  At  the  solicita- 
tion of  his  friends,  and  with  the  apj^roval  of  the  vestry  so  far  as 
its  members  could  be  consulted.  Dr.  Pinkney  consented  to  hold 
a  service  and  preach,  and  also  to  administer  the  holy  communion, 
which  had  been  celebrated  in  the  church  only  once  during  the 
year.  It  never  occurred  to  him  for  a  moment  that  by  holding 
such  services  he  would  be  giving  oftence  in  any  quarter.  But 
Bishop  Meade,  hearing  of  these  ministrations  and  being  under 

*  Title  ii,  canon  3,  §  2. 


LIFE    or    ]!lS||oi'    I'INKM.v.  ;{();{ 

some  misappreliensioii  of  tlic  (•iiciiiiisfmiccs,  Ic.ok  «x('<'i)li()ii  at 
whiit  Dr.  PiNKNEY  had  doin-,  uiul  wrote  to  him  comphiiniii^f  sju- 
cially  of  his  having-  ailmiiiistered  the  holy  commiinii.ii  without 
previous  consultation  witli  him  (Bisho])  Meade),  as  //r  was  stand 
ing  somewhat  in  the  relati(m  of  jjastor  to  that  vacant  jiarish. 
Dr.  PiXKNEV  very  fully  explained  to  the  Bishop  the  circumsliinceH 
under  which  he  liad  acted,  and  after  some  corres])on(h'nce  liet  ween 
them  the  matter  ended.  It  is  well  known  that  Bishoj)  :\Ieade 
•combined  with  his  ardent  evangelic  views  and  his  zealous  lab(»rs 
a  very  determined  sense  of  w^hat  he  conceived  to  be  the  Episcoijul 
prerogative. 

It  was  very  gratifying  to  Bishop  Pinknev  to  receive,  soon  after 
his  act  inhibiting  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mortimer,  the  following  strong 
and  emi^hatic  letter,  unsought,  from  the  lit.  Kev.  Bishoii  Kerfoot, 
of  Pittsburgh  : 

"  PiTTSBtiRfJH,  Pa..  J(iiniiiri)  1,  ISSK. 

'•  My  Deak  IksHOP  Pinkney  :  A  Happy  New  Year  1  tli()Ut,'li  it  is  the  open- 
ing  of  a  year  of  anxious  care  to  you.     May  GOD  give  you  full  grace  for  it  all  .' 

"  I  have  felt  iuii)elle(l.  since  the  papers  have  told  us  of  your  official  act 
about  the  clergyman  inhibited  by  you,  to  send  you  a  word  of  sympathy  and 
encouragement.  We  Bishops  owe  this  to  one  "another.  I  more  ami  "more 
see  that  canons  and  trials  are  not  to  be  effectual  means  of  protecting  the 
Church  from  errors.  The  Church's  defence  must  be  found  in  the  Bishop's 
office  and  action;  and  in  his  refusal  to  let  his  (jffice  be  made,  by  //taction, 
the  silent,  though  unwilling,  instrument  with  which  others  work  evil.  All 
men  must  have  free  use  of  all  the  rights  that  canons  recognize.  But  if  pres- 
byters use  up  all  their  scope  to  teach  and  to  guide  worship  as  they  think 
right,  the  Bishop  must  not  be  required  to  limit  his  official  duty  and  right  to 
control  and  guide  merely  what  canons  command  him  to  do.  He  must  meet 
error  early,  and  check  its  encroachments,  as  hi.s  conscience  and  discretion 
direct,  by  such  use  of  his  office  as  guide  and  i:)rotector  of  the  Chur<-h  in  his 
diocese  as  that  office  requires,  keeping,  of  course,  within  the  canonical  limits 
and  means.  The  license  on  the  one  side  must  not  be  limitless,  while  the 
duty  on  the  other  be  made  impracticable.  The  Bishop  jnust  incur  the 
responsibility  of  checking  error.     That  is  part  of  his  office. 

"  In  187fi,  I  forbid  a  young  jjresbyter  rector  pi'rmitting  a  presbyter  of 
this  misleading  school  to  officiate  in  any  way  in  his  cures  in  my  diocese.  The 
one  thus  inhibited  was  then  not  yet  canonically  received  into  any  of  our 
dioceses.  He  was  yet  '  foreign.'  In  that  case  (and  I  do  it  in  every  grave 
case)  I  took  counsel.  I  think  that  an  able  lawyer  is  essential  to  keep  us 
from  mistake  of  law,  civil  or  canon.  May  GOD  give  you  wisdom  and  the 
right  will  in  all  your  task  I  I  Itelieve  that  the  Bishojj's  office,  as  prirnti 
counsellor  and  reprover,  then,  if  need  be,  rebuking  openly  ;  and  then  wait- 
ing for  the  sound  puljlic  mind  of  his  jjcople,  will  accomplish  very  much — all 
that  the  Church  needs.  But  the  Bishop  must  l)e  efficient  and  not  misunder- 
stood. I  KNOW  that  Bishop  Whittingham  distinctly  condemned  the  things 
we  agree  in  censuring.  He  nuide  his  judgment  known  to  the  men  who  would 
not  make  their  reverence  and  obedience  practical  and  actual.  I  can  reailily 
see  that  your  duty  may  be  the  more  urgent  now.  I  am.  my  dear  Bishoj). 
faithfully,  "'  Your  friend  and  brother. 

••J.   B.   KEKFOOT." 

Following  not  long  after  the  act  of  the  inhibition  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Mortimer  by  Bishop  Pinkney  several  other  cases  arose  whicli 


304  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

caused  great  dissatisfaction  on  the  part  of  many  with  the  diocesan 
administrations,  and  for  several  years  kept  the  Church  in  the 
diocese  in  a  state  of  ver}^  painful  excitement.  Reference  here  is 
only  so  far  made  to  these  cases  as  either  dii-ectly  or  indu-ectly 
Bishop  PiNKXEY  became  personally  or  officially  connected  with 
them.  Nor  could  they  be  kept  wholly  out  of  the  diocesan  con- 
vention, which  for  some  two  or  three  years  was  greatly  agitated 
by  the  dissensions  growing  out  of  them. 

The  rejection,  or  rather  the  declining^  for  the  time,  by  Bishop 
PixKNEY  to  proceed  with  the  ordination  of  Mr.  W.  R.  Webb,  a 
candidate  for  holy  orders,  was  deemed  by  some  as  an  extreme,  if 
not  unjust,  exercise  of  the  Episcopal  prerogative.  The  case  of 
Mr.  Webb  was  undoubtedly  one  of  disappointment  and  hardship. 
It  came  as  one  of  those  experiences  in  the  Church,  as  in  human 
life,  not  unusual.  On  the  one  side  a  grievance  was  felt  in  failiu'e 
for  a  season  to  accomplish  a  worthy  and  desirable  end  ;  and  on 
the  other  there  was  a  strict  sense  of  high  obligation  to  conscience 
and  duty  which  interposed  to  delay,  but  not  ultimately  thwart, 
the  sought-for  object.  In  such  cases  there  may  be  equal  sincerity 
and  conscientiousness,  and  yet  for  the  time  and  vmder  the  circum- 
stances the  results  may  be  equally  regretful  and  disaj^pointing. 
So  it  was  in  this  case.  A  simjDle  statement  of  the  facts  is  all  that 
is  necessary.  It  appears  that  ]Mi\  Webb  had  been  a  candidate 
for  holy  orders  for  the  full  length  of  time  requu-ed  by  the  canons  ; 
he  had  pursued  a  three  years"  course  of  study  at  the  General 
Theological  Seminary  ;  he  had  passed  the  examinations  before 
the  board  of  examining  chaplains  for  the  diocese  :  his  testimonials 
had  been  signed  by  the  Standing  Committee,  and  the  preliminary 
arrangements  had  been  made  by  the  Bishop  for  his  ordination. 
Under  the  canons  the  Bishop  is  required  to  personally  conduct 
the  tinal  examinations  before  proceeding  to  ordain.*  For  this 
purpose  he  requested  the  presence  and  assistance  of  two  well- 
learned  and  faithful  presbyters  of  the  Church.t  For  three  suc- 
cessive hours,  mider  the  examination,  the  answers  of  the  candidate 
to  the  Bishop  and  his  assisting  presbyters  were  so  unsatisfactory 
that  the  conviction  was  forced  upon  them  that  the  young  man 
held  such  erroneous  ^iews  touching  the  doctrinal  standards  of  the 
Church  and  her  authorized  provisions  for  j^riestly  administrations 
in  the  sacred  offices,  that  they  could  not  conscientiously  pass  him 
as  a  candidate  jiossessing  the  proper  qualifications  for  admission 
to  the  sacred  ministry.  The  Bishojo  therefore  declined  to  ordain  -^ 
and  the  assisting  presbyters,  under  their*  signatures  to  the  pajiers 
which  they  presented  to  the  Bishop,  declined  to  recommend  the 
candidate  for  ordination.  The  Bishoj:),  if  he  had  been  satisfied 
as  to  the  fitness  of  the  candidate,  could  have  proceeded  to  ordain 


*  Digest ;  title  i,  canon  4.  §  vi. 

t  The  Rev.  Drs.  William  L.  Hyland  and  J.  H.  Elliott. 


LIFE    (IF    lUsilol'    I'IMvNKV.  ;{(l5 

without  the  cKiu'iin-cuce  of  the  assisting-  prcshytf^rs.  In  mk-Ii 
cases  the  Bishop  performs  a  duty  imposed  upon  him  hy  the 
Chuieh  ;  and  he  is  responsihk'  for  its  faithful  dischar<,'e.  H<' 
may  err,  indeed,  but  how  else  can  he  act  than  under  the  sdhiun 
and  conscientious  sense  of  his  responsibility  !  The  Hnal  detci-- 
mination  rested  with  himself:  and  lie  ilecided  to  jxistjione  the 
ordination,  for  it  was  not  an  absolute  rejection  of  the  cau<lidate. 

In  the  excitetl  state  of  Church  feelinyf  in  the  diocese  at  the 
time,  it  was  then  and  subsequently  char<^^ed  in  pul)licatiou,  that 
the  young  man  had  been  '•  treated  with  needless  severity,"  and 
"  with  an  apparent  spirit  of  erdnioii  and  unfairness." 

On  the  contrary,  in  an  unpulilished  letter  written  by  one*  (»f 
the  two  clergymen  who  assisted  the  Bishop  in  the  examination, 
giving-  a  full  and  explicit  account  of  the  circumstances,  it  is 
expressly  and  })Ositively  declared  "that  the  Bishoj)  did  not  i-eject 
the  young-  man  absolutely  : "'  ••  dealt  as  kindly  and  gently  with  liim 
as  possible  ;  "  did  not  regard  "  his  case  finally  and  summarily  dis- 
l)Osed  of:"  and  "recommended  him  to  study  approved  authors, 
revise  his  views,  and  in  the  end  reach  the  object  of  his  desires."' 

Afterwards,  Bishop  Pinkxey,  in  response  to  a  letter  from  the 
young  man's  rector  touching  his  case,  states  : 

"  In  the  exainiuation  I  held,  I  asked  tlie  assistance  of  two  learned  and  able 
clergymen,  as  the  canon  required.  I  considered  them  representative  men. 
The  examination  conducted  was  mine,  not  theirs.  It  was  fairly  and  most 
liberally  ct)ndncted.  I  was  not  satisfied,  and,  in  the  judgment  I  formed. 
I  was  strengthened  by  their  joint  testimony." 

The  Bishop,  moreover,  stated  that — 

"  There  was  a  tender  proffer  of  a  second  opportunity  for  revision  of  stmly 
and  correction  of  doctrine." 

But  apart  from  such  affirmative  and  positive  statement  of  the 
case,  the  well-known  character  of  the  Bishoj)  for  gentleness  and 
kindness  in  all  his  personal  and  official  relations  with  others,  and 
the  high  standing-  of  the  two  presljyters  who  were  present  and 
assisted  in  the  examination,  would  surely  warrant  the  behef  that 
both  he  and  they  earnestly  and  conscientiously  sought  to  dis- 
charge the  duty  devolved  upon  them  with  fairness,  with  kind 
consideration,  and  with  due  regard  to  the  requii-ements  of  the 
canon  under  which  they  were  acting. 

Perhaps  under  other  than  the  then  existing  state  of  things  in 
the  diocese  this  case  would  have  attracted  little  attention,  and 
would  not  have  called  forth  any  severe  animadversi(»ns  and  strict- 
ures. 

It  is  to  be  added  that  the  young  man  declined  to  i.rcscnt  him- 
self for  any  sul)sequent  examination  for  holy  orders,  witlidrew 
from  candidateship  in  the  Diocese  of  Maryland,  and  sought  and 
obtained  candidateship  and  ordination  in  another  diocese. 

*  Kev.  Dr.  Hvlaud. 


306  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    FIXKNEY. 


CHAPTER    XXXI Y. 

CoxvEXTiox.     1881-'82. 

The  ConveBtiou  of  1881  contmiied  to  he  ag-itated  by  the  ques- 
tions touchiug  the  Standing-  Committee  that  had  been  raised  and 
considered  in  the  Convention  of  1880.  They  came  up  under  the 
report  of  the  committee  on  canons  on  a  certain  resokition  that 
had  been  referred  to  them  at  the  preceding  annvial  session.  Mat- 
ters had  quieted  to  some  extent,  though  there  was  still  an  under- 
swell  of  agitation  and  discontent,  and  a  iixed  purpose  on  the  part 
of  some  to  secure,  if  possible,  some  action  by  the  convention  by 
which  the  Standing  Committee  would  be  required  to  report  all 
theii-  official  acts  and  'their  non-acts  in  certain  cases,  with  the  rea- 
sons therefor.  The  action  of  the  Convention  of  1881  and  also 
that  of  the  Convention  of  1882  touching  this  matter,  have  been 
ah-eady  given  in  the  preceding  chapter. 

The  Bishop,  in  his  addi-ess,  refrained  from  any  allusion  to  these 
disturbing  questions.  His  position  and  Aiews  were  well  under- 
stood. He  lamented  the  agitations  that  grew  vip  respecting  the 
course  of  the  Standing  Committee  in  the  matters  complained  of. 
He  had  not  in  any  way  interfered  with  their  province,  functions, 
and  powers  under  the  constitution  and  canons  of  the  Chui'ch. 
He  had  explicitly  explained  himself  touching  those  points.  He 
expressed  no  opinion  as  to  whether  the  committee  had  erred  or 
acted  wisely  in  the  matters  that  had  been  legitimately  before  them. 
It  was  in  the  power  of  the  convention  to  change  the  constitution 
of  the  committee  in  its  membership  at  any  annual  election,  if  the 
body  saw  tit  to  do  so.  He  thought  it  his  duty  as  the  jiresiding 
officer  of  the  convention  to  keep  the  proceedings  and  debates,  as 
far  as  he  could,  within  the  rules  of  order,  and  only  so  far  forth  to 
interpose  for  the  protection  of  the  Standing  Committee  as  their 
co-ordinate  position  in  Church  administrations  required. 

The  Bishop  opened  his  address  at  the  Convention  of  1881  with 
a  note  of  sadness.  There  had  been  during  the  year  an  unusual 
number  of  deaths  among  the  clergy  and  prominent  laymen  of  the 
diocese.  No  less  than  five  of  the  clergy  and  sevoi  of  the  laity 
had  been  called  to  the  rest  of  the  faithful :  to  all  of  whom  the 
Bishop  paid  just  tributes  in  commemoration. 

Among  those  deaths  there  were  two  that  called  for  special 
memorial  mention — the  one  that  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  James  A.  McKen- 
ney :  the  other,  that  of  John  Henry  Alexander,  LL.  D.  They 
were  both  native  Marylanders  like  himself,  and,  while  prominent 


LIFE    OF    lUSIlol'    I'lNKNKV.  IIOT 

in  the  councils  :ui(l  woi-k  of  tlic  Cliuicli.  tln-v  were  at  the  hiiluc 
time  his  wannest  unci  closest  pei'sonal  tVieuils. 

A  Bisbops  lite  is  ninch  interwoven  with  other  lives.  It  is  so, 
indeed,  more  or  less,  with  all  lives  ;  but  a  IJishop  in  the  Church 
of  GOD  is  brought  into  sjx'cial  and  very  close  iclations  with  others, 
not  only  in  his  ])ersonal  friendshii>s.  but  also  in  his  j)astoral  and 
]iaternal  character,  in  his  counselling-  oltices,  in  his  sujiervising 
government,  i]i  the  weighty  charge  of  his  responsibilties.  He 
feels  that  his  life  is  very  iiitimateh'  and  sometimes  most  tenderly 
iuterM^oven  with  other  lives;  and  as  his  early  friends  and  old 
associates  Avere  summoned  to  go  before  him  into  the  rest  and  joy 
of  the  LORD,  and  as  men  came  up  to  work  with  him  as  fellow- 
helpers  in  the  Gospel  and  the  Church  and  were  called  to  gfo  forth 
to  meet  the  reward  of  true  and  laudable  service  from  the  Master. 
the  Bishop  thoug-ht  that  it  was  due  to  the  memory  of  the  just  to 
render  the  tril)utes  of  loving'  and  grateful  remembrance.  Hence 
whenever  any  sorrow  or  bereavement  came  to  any  family  undei- 
his  pastoral  charg-e  he  was  sure  to  send  a  letter  full  of  tender 
reminiscences  and  of  the  sAveetest  consolations  of  our  holy  religion  : 
and  afterwards  throughout  his  Episcopate,  as  one  and  another  of 
the  brethren  passed  away,  he  never  failed  to  make  touching  record 
of  their  character  and  services. 

These  memorial  tributes  by  Bishop  Pinkney  were  not  mere 
words,  of  course,  but  genuine  expressions  of  heart-felt  convic- 
tions ;  and  they  are,  in  several  instances,  transferred  to  these 
pages  because  they  show  how  fully  he  could  api:)reciate  all  real 
excellence,  and  all  that  was  beautiful  and  true  and  lovely  in  the 
lives  of  others. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  James  A.  McKenney  had  l^een  for  more  than  fifty 
years  an  honored  presbyter  of  the  diocese.  Educated  and  trained 
in  the  old  Anglican  theology,  he  was,  as  a  High  Churchman, 
exceedingly  tenacious  of  the  doctrinal  teachings  of  the  Chui-ch  in 
her  standards  of  faith,  and  of  her  whole  system  of  wt)rshii).  order, 
and  discipline,  and  yet  most  practical  in  the  enforcement  of  the 
strictest  duties  of  the  Christian  life.  To  him,  as  well  learned, 
and  as  having  much  ex2)erience  in  Church  matters,  the  Bishop 
Avas  wont  to  have "  recourse  for  counsel  and  conference.  Dr. 
McKenney  ardently  reciprocated  the  Bishop's  love  and  friendship. 
The  beautiful  consistency  of  his  Christian  character  and  life,  antl 
the  cultured  refinement  of  his  manners,  made  him  a  most  con- 
genial friend.  For  many  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Standing 
Committee  ;  and  at  times,  in  the  absence  of  the  Bishoj).  he  tilled 
the  position  of  President  of  the  diocesan  convention  with  dignity 
and  etiiciency.  The  Bishop  justly  characterized  him  as  "  one  of 
the  oldest,  wisest,  and  most  richly  furnished  of  our  clergy  :  ' 

"His  mind  was  most  admirably  disciplined.  To  a  memory  of  siuK'ular 
retentiveness  and  accuracy  lie  united  an  imagination  that  was  severely  ohas- 


308  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    riXKNEY. 

tened  by  a  judgment  which,  for  soiiuduess,  I  have  rarely  seen  equalled.  Hisr. 
mind  was  intensely  logical.  Loyal  to  the  Church  of  his  love  he  was.  He 
fully  appreciated  the  beauty  of  her  doctrine  and  ritual :  and  he  maintained 
and  retained  them  with  a  resolute  and  steady  grasp  against  all  assailants. 
In  this  age  of  restfulness  and  craving  for  change  he  stood,  like  a  rock  of 
granite,  firm  and  stable.  His  life  had  a  great  underlying  principle,  and  to 
that  he  adhered  with  a  martyr's  inflexibility  of  purpose.  He  possessed  rare 
ability  as  a  preacher.  Clear  in  his  conceptions,  he  had  the  solidity  of  the 
diamond."  * 

In  Ms  declining-  years  the  Bishop  deeply  felt  the  loss  of  one  so 
loved  and  valued. 

The  other  decease  referred  to  touched  the  Bishop  still  more 
nearly  and  tenderly.  It  was  that  of  his  early  and  life-long  friend, 
John  Henry  Alexander.  LL.  D.  They  had  been  companions  in 
their  boyhood,  were  classmates  at  school  and  college,  and  gradu- 
ated together.  The  early  friendship  thus  formed  strengthened 
with  advancing  years.  The  one  became  as  great  an  ornament  to 
the  Church  in  the  laity  as  the  Bishop  himself  was  in  the  priest- 
hood. There  have  been  few  men  who  combined  in  themselves 
more  varied  acquirements  and  accomplishments  than  Dr.  Alex- 
ander possessed.  As  linguist,  philosopher,  theologian,  poet, 
architect,  artist,  and  civil  engineer,  he  was  eminent :  and  yet  withal 
so  modest  and  retuing  that  comparatively  few  knew  how  varied 
and  extensive  were  his  accomplishments.  Between  himself  and 
the  late  Bishoj?  "Whittingham  there  had  existed  warm  and  strong 
friendship  :  and  for  some  years  during  the  administration  of  the 
latter.  Dr.  Alexander  served  the  Church  as  the  secretary  of  the 
diocesan  convention.  Bishop  Pinkney  thus  expressed  his  sorrow 
and  his  loving  estimate  of  the  man : 

'•  As  the  shadows  of  the  valley  are  creeping  over  me  thick  and  fast,  I  sit 
down  in  the  twilight  of  memory  and  am  sad — sad  not  on  my  brother's 
account,  for  he  is  at  rest,  but  on  my  own.  wh(j  am  left  to  tread  the  battle- 
field almost  alone,  so  far  as  the  companions  of  my  childhood  are  concerned. 
The  retrosj:)ect  floods  my  soul.  The  dearest  friend  I  ever  had.  Dr.  J.  H. 
Alexander,  for  he  was  the  sharer  of  my  brightest  young  dreams,  thus  wrote  : 
"'  '  Then  came  the  pictures  blurred  and  canvas  torn, 
.    Of  deeds  (mine  own  and  others)  that  present 

True  scenes  of  what  my  real  life  has  borne : 

A  sombre  show  of  learning,  strength  missijen't, 

A  gloomy  train  of  shadi)ws  rearward  Ijent, 

Beneath  the  slant  rays  of  a  sinking  sun — 

A.  funeral  march  of  figures  tremulant, 

"Whose  step  no  other  music  hurries  on. 

Than  the  dull  heart-beats  'neath  the  haunted  elm  alone.'  " 

The  Bishop  felt  called  upon  also  to  pay  a  just  and  brief  tribute 
to  the  memory  of  Bishop  Atkinson,  of  North  Carohna,  who  had 
died  during  the  year  : 

*  The  Rev.  Dr.  McKeuney  left  to  the  convention  of  the  diocese  a  legacy  of 
about  ijsS.SOO,  which  is  designated  as  the  "James  A.  McKeuney  Fund."  the 
income  of  which  to  be  applied  to  •'  superannuate  and  disabled  clergy,"  and 
to  "diocesan  theoloLcical  education." 


LIFE   OF   lUSJlol-    I'INKNEY.  :!<!'.» 

''  The  deatli  of  suoli  a  niun  occasions  a  vacuum  in  our  council  l(i)ui<l  wliicli 
it  will  not  be  easy  to  till.  The  (."hurcli  in  all  our  Ijordr-rs  deplori's  it  ;  while 
to  this  diocese,  where  for  yeai's  he  emleared  himself  to  so  many  hy  the  soft. 
est  and  toiiderest  ministries  of  love,  tin-  layiii;,'  down  of  his  ])a'sto'ral  staff  at 
tlic  l)i<l(lin!,'  of  the  Master  gives  the  truest  sorrow." 

He  closes  these  notices  with  the  words:  "  Biotliers.  h-t  iis 
watch  aiul  pray  and  work,  for  the  ni^dit  conieth  when  no  man 
can  work.  " 

As  the  diocese  had  not  yet  cahned  (h)\vn  into  iiuiet  and  smooth- 
ness, it  was  well  and  not  inapposite  that  the  thoughts  of  the  con- 
vention should  be  first  turned  to  dwell  for  a  few  monn-nts  upon 
these  noble  and  faithful  sons  of  the  Church,  in  both  the  ministry 
and  the  laity,  who  had  been  called  from  wcjrk  and  duty  in  tlie 
Church  on  earth  to  their  blessed  rest  in  the  Church  in  Paradise. 
The  Bishop  loved  to  pay  such  glowing  tributes  to  departed 
worthies  ;  and  every  word  of  praise  he  uttered  was  the  true 
expression  of  the  feelings  of  his  soul  over  their  departure. 

Our  diocesan  conventions,  during  the  two  or  three  days  of  their 
sessions,  are  mostly  occupied  with  matters  of  routine  lousiness, 
with  j^roposals  for  changing  old  canons  and  adopting  new  ones, 
and  ver}^  frequently  with  iigitating  discussions  upon  topics  and 
measures  having  little  relation  to,  or  bearing  on.  the  great  work 
of  the  Church  in  the  fultilment  of  hei'  divine  mission.  ^Matters 
of  grave  moment,  presented  by  the  Bisln^p  for  the  consideration 
and  action  of  the  body,  are  too  often  crowded  out,  or  set  aside,  to 
give  place  to  propositions  and  debates  that  only  create  dissen- 
sions, and  tend  to  no  practical  good. 

Perhaps  it  is  inherent  in  our  whole  system  of  conciliar  assem- 
blies, which  are  necessarily  composed  of  clergymen  and  laymen 
of  divers  sentiments  and  views,  and  of  intense  convictions  in 
regard  to  certain  favorite  measures  for  the  welfare  and  jn-ogress 
of  the  Church.  The  safety  of  the  Church  is  happily  found  in  the 
fact  that,  when  the  convention  is  over,  and  clergy  and  laity  return 
to  their  respective  spheres  of  duty,  the  work  of  the  Church  goes 
on  as  though  no  council  had  been  held,  and  the  excitements  and 
discussions  are  either  forgotten  or  only  regretfully  rememliered. 
There  is  a  wholesome  second  thought  in  the  Church,  as  in  indi- 
viduals, which  leads  to  hopefulness  for  the  best,  and  to  endeavors 
to  make  the  best  of  what  may  not  have  l)een  wisely  considered  or 
rightfully  done. 

In  connection  with  his  detail  of  visitatitms.  the  Bishop  was 
careful  to  present  matters  which  he  deemed  of  great  i)raitical 
importance,  such  as  the  mission  work  of  the  Church,  domestic, 
foreign,  and  diocesan  ;  the  introduction  of  lay  workers,  witljin 
and  outside  the  parishes  :  the  matter  of  the  Church  Scho»)l  for 
Girls  within  the  District  of  Columbia :  better  preparation  of  can- 
didates for  confirmation  :  more  attention  to  el^'orts  for  the  conver- 


310  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

sion  of  the  Jews  ;  aud  lastly,  some  action,  if  deemed  advisable,, 
for  the  promotiou  of  the  temperance  reform. 

But  beyond  the  appointment  of  some  committees  to  report  uport 
some  of  the  matters  to  which  the  Bishop  had  referred,  nothing 
eflectual  was  done. 

The  Bishop  had,  as  early  as  1874,  and  on  subsequent  occasions,, 
referred,  with  anxious  concern,  to  the  pressing  needs  of  the  rural 
clergy  in  those  portions  of  the  diocese  where,  owing  to  their  own 
straitened  circumstances,  the  congregations  were  unable  to 
provide  any  sufficient  supjjort  for  the  clergy.  There  were  many 
such  cases  of  sad  distress.  In  his  address  at  the  preceding  con- 
vention, the  Bishop  had  again  expressed  his  solicitude  upon  the 
subject,  and  had  ventiu"ed  a  suggestion  for  relief :  which,  how- 
ever impracticable  it  might  be  thought  in  this  age,  and  under  our 
present  system  of  clerical  supply  and  support,  was  yet  so  char- 
acteristic of  the  man  in  the  fulness  of  his  heart-sympathy,  and 
the  outflow  of  his  loving  zeal,  that  the  entu'e  paragraj^hs  concern- 
ing it  are  here  given  : 

•'  Will  you  pardou  me  if  I  venture  to  express  to  you  some  thoughts  touch- 
ing the  suljject  which  have  exercised  my  heart  aud  mind  for  years  ?  I  do 
it  with  some  hesitation,  because  I  fear  that  it  will  appear  to  be  Quixotic  and 
extravagant.  Is  it  not  within  the  verge  of  possibility  for  us  of  the  ministry 
to  come  to  the  rescue  of  our  poorer  brothers,  aud,  by  the  surrender  of  a  part 
of  our  means,  as  voluntarily  made,  add  to  the  stipend  of  their  present  sup- 
port ?  As  the  leader  of  the  avenging  Church  is  now  marching  in  battle  array 
against  the  Kingdom  of  Darkness,  I  am  willing  to  bear  more  than  my  just 
proportion  of  this  measure  of  relief.  The  moral  influence  which  would  be 
exerted  on  the  public,  in  aud  by  the  adoption  of  some  such  plan,  would 
greatly  elevate  the  Church  of  our  love  and  ennoble  it.  I  known  that  there 
are  difficiilties  in  the  way,  grave  difficulties.  But  I  believe  they  are  not 
insuperable.  A  good,  brotherly  love  would  early  bridge  them  over.  For 
one,  I  should  labor  with  a  millionfold  lighter  heart  if  I  knew  that  I  was  in 
any  way,  or  to  any  degree,  the  helper  of  my  poorer  brethren. 

'•  And  I  believe  that  GOD'S  blessing  would  descend  on  such  a  brotherhood 
so  copiously  that  there  would  not  be  room  enough  to  contain  it.  This  sug- 
gestion is  for  my  brethren  of  the  clergy,  for  their  consideration  alone  ;  and 
if  we  can  adopt  some  plan,  though  never  so  inadequate,  it  seems  to  me  that 
we  will  do  much  to  stimulate  the  laity  to  attempt  and  achieve  more  than 
they  have  done  before,  for  those  who  watch  over  them  in  the  LORD. 

''It  would  be  a  grand  step  in  the  morally  sublime.  Coming  to  the  Church 
rule  of  this  noble  old  diocese  after  ten  years  of  such  exhausting  labor,  experi- 
ence, and  sorrow,  with  only  three  or  four  years  more  for  future  service  if  so 
many,  I  feel  that  something  may  be  done  by  us,  and  ask  you  to  help  me  to 
find  it  out.  If  I  seem  to  you  to  suggest  what  is  merely  Utopian,  I  pray  you 
throw  over  it  the  light  of  Calvary :  and  I  believe  you  will  find  it  to  be  a 
sublime  possibility. 

"  These  brethren  are,  some  of  them,  men  of  rare  gifts,  and  all  of  them  are 
diligent  dispensers  of  the  Word  and  Sacraments.  Anything  we  can  spare 
would  be  the  earnest  of  our  heart-felt  sympathy  ;  and  what  we  do,  be  it  little 
or  much,  would  touch  tlie  hearts  of  our  laymen  to  the  very  quick." 

This  portion  of  the  Bishop's  address,  relating  to  clerical  sup- 
port, was  referred  to  a  committee  of  three  prominent  laj^men,  who,. 


LIFE    OF    lilSHOr    riXKNEY,  311 

in  their  carefully -prepared  report  presented  at  the  Convention  of 
1881,  recognize  the  painful  truth  of  the  inadecjuate  sui)port  of 
many  of  the  clergy.  After  expressing  their  appreciation  of  tin- 
Bishop's  "suggestion"  to  the  eft'ect  "that  the  better-paid  jxtrtiou 
of  the  clergy  should  come  to  the  rescue  of  tlieir  poorer  hrotlicrs  '' 
— which  was  "  a  matter  for  the  clergy  themselves  to  consider" — 
they  urge  that  a  due  attention  to,  and  compliance  with,  the  alrejuly 
existing  canonical  re(iuirements  respecting  the  duties  of  vestries 
and  congregations  to  their  ministers  would  go  far  towards  secur- 
ing the  desu-ed  relief,  and  that  out  of  a  "  })ermiinent  sustentation 
fund,"  which  should  be  created,  the  s^dary  of  every  pooi-ly-paid 
clergyman  should  be  raised  to  the  lowest  grade  of  Si, ()()(). 

The  Bishop  never  tired  in  bringing  this  matter  of  rlerlcnl  tmj,- 
port  before  the  convention.  He  did  so  again  in  his  address  of 
the  next  year,  and  urged  attention  to  the  admirable  report  upon 
the  subject  which  had  been  presented  at  the  preceding  conven- 
tion. His  visitations  had  brought  him  into  such  close  ac(juaint 
ance  with  the  contlition  and  needs  of  many  of  the  clergy  that  he 
could  not  forbear  the  frecpient  expression  of  his  solicitude  in  their 
behalf,  and  he  reiterated,  in  1882,  his  desire  and  readiness  to 
unite  with  his  brethren  of  the  clergy  "  in  throwing  all  our  sal- 
aries into  one  common  fund,  to  be  distributed  pro  rata,''  for 
the  relief  of  the  more  necessitous.  He  could  do  no  more,  and  if 
he  had  had  the  command  of  a  million  of  mone}'  he  would  have 
gladly  dispensed  it  for  the  benefit  of  the  poorer  clergy. 

The  time  of  the  convention  Avas  so  wholly  absorbed,  as  we  have 
seen,  with  other  matters  and  excitmg  discussions  that  this  impor- 
tant subject  received  no  attention. 

So,  too,  was  it  in  regard  to  some  measures  for  the  establish- 
ment of  a  "  Church  School  for  Girls  "  in  or  near  Washington  city, 
which  the  Bishop  again  and  most  earnestly  pressed  for  considera- 
tion and  action.  The  history  of  that  nu)vement  has  been  given 
in  a  previous  chapter. 

In  this  same  address  the  Bishop  took  occasion  to  refer  to  the 
temperance  reform  movement ;  expressed  his  •'  deep  solicitude  " 
on  the  subject  of  temperance,  and  stated  what  were  his  own  views 
and  his  practice  in  relation  to  it  : 

"  I  close  this  address  by  giving  expression  to  the  deep  solicitude  I  feel  ou 
the  subject  of  temperance,  one  of  the  gravest  problems  we  have  suV)mitted 
to  us,  as  Churchmen,  for  solution.  It  is  a  source  of  the  iuteusest  satisfac- 
tion to  me  to  know  that  a  subject  which  has  stirred  to  its  lowest  depths  the 
soul  of  your  Bishop,  and  two  of  his  prominent  presbyters,  the  Kev.  Dr. 
Nels(m  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Fair,  is  now  agitating  the  heart  of  the  great  J)i..cese 
of  New  York.  I  had  made  up  my  mind  to  begin  tliis  work  of  ref.>rm  when- 
ever the  door  of  entrance  was  opened  by  the  clergy:  and  to  receive  the 
declaration  in  one  or  other  of  the  three  forms  adopted  in  England,  revocable 
at  the  pleasure  of  the  signer;  believing  that  Churchmen  are  called  to  band 
together  in  an  effort  to  stay  the  ravages  of  this  terribk-  jjlague.  I  would 
commend  it  to  the  sympathy  of  the  convention,  and  solicit  in  its  behulf  the 


312  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKXEY, 

support  of  our  people.  As  for  myself.  I  have  adopted  the  total  abstinence 
principle  as  the  rule  of  my  own  conduct,  because  I  am  satisfied  that  the 
surrender  of  my  right  to  use  in  moderation  is  most  beneficial  to  my  people. 
Use  in  moderation  is  temperance.  Total  disi;se  is  my  privilege,  and  I  think 
it  no  ^Yroug  to  any  to  act  on  it.  I  wish  the  diocese  to  understand  precisely 
the  position  I  occupy.  In  no  parish  will  I  make  an  effort  without  the  con- 
currence of  its  rector :  while  I  shall  (Mi  all  suitable  occasions  address  myself 
to  the  heart  and  conscience  of  all  Churchmen,  wherever  I  meet  with  a  cord- 
ial response.  I  hold  myself  in  readiness  to  modify  my  action  by  the  sug- 
gestions which  the  profounder  wisdom  of  the  convention  may  dictate.  I  have 
only  waited  for  the  opportunity  to  take  my  stand  on  this  subject ;  having 
taken  it,  I  shall  bear  my  honest  testimony  where  I  can  do  so  with  propriety." 

There  bad  been  appointed  at  tbe  Convention  of  1880  a  commit- 
tee to  consider  and  report  to  tbe  convention  of  tbe  next  year 
upon  tbe  subject  of  tbe  temperance  reform.  Tbe  following  is  tbe 
action  tbat  was  taken  : 

Tbe  Rev.  Dr.  Nelson  offered  tbe  following  resolution,  wbicb 
was  adopted : 

^''Remlved,  That  a  committee  of  ^even,  four  clergymen  and  three  laymen, 
be  appointed  by  the  president  of  this  convention  to  take  into  consideration 
what  is  commonly  termed  the  '  Temi^ei'ance  Question,'  in  all  its  relations 
and  bearings,  with  especial  reference  to  the  interesting  work  which  is  being 
carried  on  in  the  Church  of  England,  for  the  suppression  of  intemperance  in 
the  use  of  intoxicating  drinks ;  and  report  to  the  next  convention." 

Tbe  Bisbop  appointed  as  tbe  committee  on  tbe  above  resolu- 
tion tbe  Rev.  C.  K.  Nelson,  D.  D..  tbe  Rev.  Campbell  Fan-,  D.  D., 
tbe  Rev.  ^\m..  F.  Gardner,  tbe  Rev.  Artbur  J.  Ricb,  M.  D.,  and 
Messrs.  Franklin  H.  Pilling,  Ed.  Higgins,  and  Alexander  Randall. 

Tbis  committee  reported  at  an  early  period  of  tbe  session  of 
tbe  Convention  of  1881.  but  tlieir  rejiort  is  not  printed  in  tbe 
journal.  On  tbe  second  day  of  tbe  session  tbe  cbairman  of  tbat 
committee,  tbe  Rev.  Dr.  Nelson,  offered  tbe  following  resolution  : 

'^Resolved,  That  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese  of  Maryland  express  its 
sympathy  with  the  society  recently  organized  in  New  York,  under  the  name 
of  '  The  Church  Temperance  Society,'  and  approve  of  a  vokmtary  '  Diocesan 
Society,'  constituted  after  the  plan  of,  and  in  affiliation  with,  the  general 
.society  :  and,  furthermore,  recommend  similar  parochial  organizations,  under 
the  rectors  of  the  several  parishes." 

'  "WTiicb,  after  some  discussion  and  modification,  was.  on  tbe  third 
day,  passed  in  tbe  form  following : 

'■^Resohed,  That  this  convention  expresses  its  sympathy  with  the  work 
carried  on  in  the  Church  of  England  and  among  Churchmen  in  the  United 
States,  for  the  suppression  of  drunkenness  and  the  i:)r(^motion  of  the  cause 
of  temperance." 

No  further  or  subsequent  action  was  taken  upon  tbis  subject. 
Tbe  Bisboj)  ceased  not  to  feel  a  deep  interest  m  tbe  efforts  for 
tbe  promotion  of  temperance  reform.  He  manifested  tbat  inter- 
est not  only  by  bis  example  of  total  abstinence,  but  by  addresses 


LIFE    (JF    1USH(J1'    I-INKNKV.  31;^ 

-sijecially  upon  the  subject.  wLiih  lie  delivered,  from  time  t<.  tiin»-. 
in  divers  localities. 

On  the  23d  of  the  month  of  June  of  this  yeur.  IHHI.  ih«-  Bishci) 
was  present  at  the  consecration  of  the  new  chapel  of  tlw  Vir;,'iniii 
Theoloofical  Seminary,  near  Alexandiia.  and  at  the  commencement 
exercises  of  the  institution.  He  was  also  ])resent  at  the  meetin;j:s 
of  the  alumni  on  that  occasion.  Here  he  met  with  tjuiti'  a  num- 
ber of  the  bishops  and  of  the  clergy  and  laity  of  ^'irginia.  It 
was  the  ^\Titer"s  pri\-ilege  to  accompany  the  Bishop  on  that  \-isit. 
He  listened,  as  all  did.  with  deep  interest  to  the  venerable  and 
reverend  Dr.  Joseph  Packard,  the  Dean  and  Professor  of  BibUcjil 
Learning-,  &c.,  who  gave  in  his  sermon  his  reminiscences  of  the 
early  history  of  the  Seminary  and  of  the  noted  men,  departe<l, 
who  had  tilled  professors"  chairs  in  the  institution.  The  Bishop 
took  pleasure  in  examining  the  Seminary  buildings,  and  in  going 
over  the  beautiful  surrounding  gi-ounds.  anil  enjoyed  the  hospi- 
talities so  pleasantly  accorded  to  the  guests.  But  the  Bishop  was 
not  well  at  the  time.  He  returned  to  his  home  in  the  evening 
cpiite  sick,  and  was  ill  all  the  next  day.  but  on  the  day  following 
Jie  rose  from  his  sick  bed  to  go  to  Upper  Marlborough,  where  for 
the  Sunday  he  had  an  appointment  for  ordination.  After  which 
he  went  on  to  fultil,  without  interruption,  other  appointments  for 
the  summer. 

The  Bishop  was  present  and  presided,  as  usual,  at  the  conven- 
tion which  assembled  on  the  31st  of  May,  1882,  in  the  city  of 
Washington,  at  the  Church  of  the  Epiphany. 

All  must  have  noted  on  that  occasion  the  absence  from  his  post 
of  the  late  faithful  and  genial  secretary  of  the  last  convention,  the 
beloved  Dr.  Dalrymple,  who  from  1871  had  been  annuaUy  re- 
elected and  had  ably  served  the  church  of  the  diocese  in  that 
capacity.  The  Church  militant  cannot  lose  out  of  the  ranks  of 
her  clergy  and  laity  those  who  have  been  faithful  and  valiant  in 
service  without  just  tributes  to  then-  memory.  Some  extracts 
from  the  Bishops  memorial  notice  of  his  death  are  given  : 

"Dr.  Dalrymple  was  one  of  the  most  learneil  of  intr  clergy.  •  *  •  .\ 
truer  man  or  a  braver  never  breathed — a  more  genial  cumpauiDn.  or  a 
faster  fi-iend.  The  decline  in  his  health  was  very  rapid.  I  saw  that  the  end 
was  approaching,  and  last  August  I  went  to  Baltimore  to  see  him.  I  said, 
'  My  brother,  you  are  too  sick  to  be  left  so  much  alone,  and  I  have  come  to 
offer  myself  as  yoitr  nurse.  I  will  forego  my  rest  at  the  White  Sulphur  most 
gladly  if  I  can  soothe  your  hotirs  of  sutlering.  I  know  all  abi>ut  nursing. 
for  in  early  life  I  made  it  a  sttidy.'  He  was  deeply  touched  by  the  offer,  but 
replied.  •  No,  my  dear  Bishop,  that  may  not  be  :  my  brother  comes  to  me 
to-morrow,  and  then  I  shall  not  be  akiue."  I  saw  him  only  ouce  afterwiiriLs. 
We  shall  miss  his  sweet,  pleasant  smile  and  cpiiet  humor  as  he  pour»'d  oil 
over  the  heated  debates  of  the  conveuti<m.  May  we  not  hope  that  his  image 
will  rise  up  to  rebuke  any  spirit  of  bitterness  tliat  might  otherwise  obtrude 
(HI  OUT  deliberations  ":■  Happy  will  it  be  for  us  if.  at  the  close  of  this  con- 
clave, we  can  cany  away  witli  us  to  the  verge  of  the  dark  river,  and  lieyoud 
it.  if  GOD  so  will,  as  sw'eet  memories  of  a  love  which  no  difft-reuces  of  opin- 
ion could  rtiffle.     "We  are  here  to-dav.  gone  to-morrow." 


314  LIFE    OF    BISHOr    PIXKNEY. 

From  tbe  Bishop's  tribute  to  the  memorj'  of  the  Kev.  Dr.  J.  F. 
Hoff,  who  had  (lied  during  the  past  year,  a  few  sentences  are 
quoted  : 

••  Dr.  Hoflf  was  a  man  of  large  gifts  and  attainments,  strong  in  his  convic- 
tions and  earnest  in  liis  advocacy  of  them.  He  was  well  read,  and  singularly 
careful  in  his  statement  of  facts*.  He  was  a  very  popular  preacher,  a  loving, 
sympathetic  pastor,  and  a  devoted  friend  to  the  poor.  Beautiful  in  life,  he 
was  as  beautiful  in  death." 

The  Bishop  also  felt  that  it  was  due  to  the  memory  of  the 
Hon.  Alexander  Randall,  of  St.  Aune"s  parish,  AnnajDolis,  to  refer 
to  his  death.  He  had  often  represented  his  parish  in  the  con- 
vention of  the  diocese.  The  Bishop  had  known  him  from  his 
boyhood,  and  knew  well  his  great  worth : 

'■Mr.  Randall's  piety  was  singularly  sweet  and  sincere-.  His  liberality 
distilled  as  the  dew  in  'never-failing  drops.  You  had  only  to  speak  to  the 
nick  and  the  waters  gushed  out.  As  Bishop.  I  never  pleaded  for  a  pot)r 
l.irother  in  distress  that  his  check  for  2~)  or  .50  dollars  was  not  brought  to  me 
by  return  of  mail,  with  the  touching  message,  '  Call  again,  dear  Bishop,  if 
need  require.'  He  was  honestly  and  most  warmly  attached  to  the  Book  of 
Common  Prayer,  and  he  adhered  to  it.  It  was  his  directory,  and  he  obeyed 
it.  Nor  did  his  character  end  here.  "WTienever  there  was  one  in  need,  he 
found  in  our  lamented  brother  a  friend  and  helper.  It  was  enough  for  him 
that  any  were  in  need.  He  never  paused  to  inquire  either  the  creed  or  the 
color,  but  gave  out  of  a  full  heart,  as  occasion  called  for  it.  of  that  which 
was  his  only  in  trust  for  his  neighbor.  Often  on  the  floor  of  the  convention, 
where  he  represented  the  grand  old  church  at  Annapolis,  he  gave  proof  of 
his  broad  conservatism  of  spirit.  His  domestic  life  was  as  beautiful  as  it 
was  meek  and  unobtrusive.  The  most  tender  and  attentive  of  husbands, 
and  the  fondest  of  fathers,  he  was  the  delight  of  the  homestead.  The  dio- 
cese has  lost  one  of  her  noblest  sons :  I,  the  most  tried  and  resolute  of 
friends :  St.  Anne's,  one  of  her  most  able  and  loyal  sous  ;  St.  John's  College, 
one  of  its  most  steadfast  champions. 

The  Bishop's  record  of  work,  as  given  in  his  addi-ess,  showed 
no  abatement  in  activity  and  zeal.  His  confirmations  were  1,399  ; 
his  sermons  115  :  and  his  addresses  1(59.  He  had  held  also 
during  the  year  four  of  his  '•  Bishop's  Missions." 

The  questions  touching  the  Standing  Committee  that  had  agi- 
tated the  two  preceding  conventions  still  lingered  to  trouble  the 
Convention  of  1882,  and  were  not  finally  disposed  of — as  has 
been  previously  stated — until  near  the  close  of  the  second  day  of 
the  session.  However,  matters  had  much  quieted,  a  better  feeling 
prevailed.  There  was  a  general  desire  to  go  on  with  the  regular 
business  of  the  convention. 

Final  measures  were  taken  at  this  session  to  provide  for  the 
due  celebration  of  the  Centennial  Anniversary  of  the  organization 
of  the  diocese  to  be  held  at  the  next  annual  convention  :  in  rela- 
tion to  which  the  j)roceedings  and  preparations  will  be  given  in  a 
following  chapter. 

The  year  1882.  and  so  nuieh  of  the  next  year  as  was  allotted  to 
Lim    under  the  Divine   Providence,  were  marked   with  the  same 


LIFE    OF    I'.ISIloI"    I'INKNEY.  315 

assiduous  auil  persistent  work  that  had  characterized  Bisliop 
Pinkney's  labors  in  all  the  preceding  years  of  his  ministry  and 
Episct)pate.  He  sought  not  ease.  He  coveted  not  ap])lans('. 
He  was  content  to  be,  and  go,  and  do  where  duty  called,  tliut  he 
might  fultil  the  ministry  which  he  had  received  of  theLOKDJl'^SUS 
under  the  mission  of  the  Church.  His  time,  his  thoughts,  his 
labors,  were  concentrated  u})on  his  work.  Fortunately  he  was 
not  called  to  endure  any  prohmged  serious  illness.  He  was  often 
ailing,  as  we  have  seen.  He  suffered  from  occasional  attacks  of 
vertigo.  He  notes  one  inteiTU})ti()n  in  visitations  for  about  a 
week  from  one  of  those  attacks.  There  were  some  brief  inter- 
vals of  rest  and  recreation.  He  Avas  known  at  times  to  place 
his  hands  upon  his  breast,  when  suffering  some  distress  there, 
and  say,  •'  it  will  all  soon  be  over,"  ov  words  to  that  effect.  After 
the  death  of  his  wife  and  under  the  painful  weight  of  his  respon- 
sibilities, he  seemed  really  anxious  to  wear  himself  out  that  he 
might  go  to  his  rest.  Those  who  were  much  with  him  at  this 
period  could  see  from  the  sweet  glow  of  his  soul,  the  touching 
l^athos  of  his  words,  and  the  unselfish  devotion  of  his  life  how 
his  spirit  Avas  preparing  itself  for  the  rest  of  the  blessed. 

He  felt  very  keenly  the  trials  and  troul:)les  that  had  grown  up 
in  the  diocese  the  last  few  years.  While  firm  in  the  maintenance 
of  his  position  as  Bishop  it  grieved  him  to  see  how  the  peace  of 
the  diocese  was  disturbed,  and  the  progress  of  the  Church  hin- 
dered by  what  he  deemed  needless  sources  of  discord  and  con- 
tention. He  was  a  lover  of  peace  and  concord.  His  \evy  nature 
moved  him  to  love  and  to  sympathy.  Firm  and  resolute  where 
principle  was  concerned,  or  duty  involved,  he  could  at  the  same 
time  cherish  no  animosity  against  those  who  differed  from  him  or 
felt  called  to  oppose  him.  To  a  temperament  and  character  like  his, 
as  ao-e  advanced,  and  the  lovin<>-  ties  that  bound  him  to  home  and 
friends  were  being  severed  by  death,  and  the  grave  interests  of 
the  welfare  of  the  Chuijch  were  pressing  increasingly  upon  his 
soul,  it  is  not  surprising  that  there  were  signs  and  indications  of 
failing  strength  and  health.  He  seemed  to  realize  this,  and  felt 
more  and  more  the  need  of  Divine  sustaining  grace.  A  clergy- 
man, who  was  a  bedfellow  with  the  Bishop  on  one  of  his  -visita- 
tions at  this  period,  hearing  some  murmuring  sounds  as  the 
Bishop  lay  beside  him,  supposed  that  he  was  suffering  some 
bodily  pain  or  distress,  but  soon  found  that  the  faint  whisperings 
which  he  heard  were  the  utterances  of  prayer  as  the  Bishoj)  was 
composing  himself  to  sleep.  And  yet  withal  he  was  as  sensitive 
to  everything  that  was  beautiful,  tender,  and  lovely  in  life  as  he 
had  ever  been  in  the  freshness  of  youth.  He  was  as  thoughtful 
and  careful  for  even  the  little  things  that  enter  into  daily  life  or 
would  minister  to  comfort  or  pleasure  in  others  as  he  had  always 
been.     Apart  from  his  official  correspondence,  and  when  on  his. 


316  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PIXKNEY. 

travels,  be  found  time  to  seize  intervals  for  some  brief  letters  of 
counsel  or  sympatby  to  tbose  wbose  remembrance  be  bore  in  his 
heart. 

After  his  return,  at  the  close  of  the  summer  of  1881,  from  the 
White  Sulphur,  alluding  to  his  attack  of  vertigo,  he  thus  writes 
to  ]\Ir.  Corcoran  : 

'•  Deak  Me.  Coecoean  :  I  have  beeu  very  sick,  but  am  better  to-day.  I 
liad  a  severe  attack  the  day  after  my  return,  and  until  yesterday  I  C(juld  not 
take  a  steady  step.  I  delivered  a  short  address  at  the  Navy  Yard,  T)Ut  siif- 
fered  no  ill  c'ousequence.  I  was  not  strong  enough  to  call,  and  t<  )ld  Lawrence 
to  tell  yoTi,  with  my  love,  that  I  was  not.  I  was  sorry  to  hear  that  y<:)U  were 
complaining.  I  will  call  and  see  you  in  a  day  or  two.  Your  life  is  far  more 
precious  than  mine.  It  lights  up  with  smiles  so  many  other  hearts.  I  trust 
that  GOD  will  watch  over  it  for  their  sakes,  and  give  you  more  and  more  of 
that  sweet,  warm  sunshine  which  His  grace  alone  yields.  Bright  as  your  life 
has  been  in  benefactions  to  y(jur  own  race,  soft  in  sympathy  as  the  dew  falls. 
He  will  make  it  brighter  to  you  in  the  eventide,  as  it  fades  away  in  the  mel- 
low light  beyond.  You  are  in  my  thoughts  each  day,  and  the  memory  of 
your  love,  of  which  I  am  so  unworthy,  sweetens  my  solitude. 
•'  Affectionatelv, 

'•  AV.  W.  CoEcoEAX,  LL.  D.  "  W.  P." 

By  special  invitation  the  Bishop  spent  some  eight  or  nine  days 
in  August,  1882,  at  Nantucket,  Mass.,  as  the  guest  of  Charles 
O'Connor,  Esq.,  with  whom,  since  the  issue  in  1878  of  the  Bishop's 
pamphlet  in  vindication  of  his  uncle  from  Harvey's  aspersions 
contained  in  his  reminiscences  of  "Wel^ster,  a  very  pleasant  inter- 
change of  letters  had  been  kept  up.  Only  a  few  weeks  before  his 
death  the  Bishop  received  from  Mr.  O'Connor  a  renewed  invita- 
tion to  be  his  guest  for  the  summer  of  1883. 

The  following  letter  shows  how  pleasant  and  intimate  were  the 
relations  between  them,  though  differmg  so  widely  as  to  religious 
and  Church  matters : 

"Nantucket,  Mass.,  Jvne  12,  1883. 

"  My  Deae  Bishop  Pixkney  :  You  were  so  kind  as  to  express,  last  summer, 
satisfaction  with  the  attractions  of  Nantucket.  They  remain  unaltered  and 
undiminished,  save  by  the  loss  of  your  admiring  friend,  Peter  Folger,  wlm 
has  i^assed  away.  We  are  all  anxioits  and  eager  to  see  you,  and  I  do  ear- 
nestly hope  that  you  may  not  be  tempted  to  abandon  us. 

"  I  have  invited  your  kinsman,  Judge  Pinkney,  thus  doing  my  best  to  add 
charms  for  you  to  our  little  isle.     With  most  alfectionate  esteem.  I  remain. 
"  Yotxr  sincere  friend, 

'•CH.  O'CONNOR." 

The  Bishop,  had  his  life  been  spared,  would,  doubtless,  have 
gladly  accejited  this  renewed  invitation  for  at  least  a  brief  period. 
No  one  enjoyed  more  than  he  the  privileges  of  association  and 
companionship  with  those  who  were  eminent  for  their  talents, 
their  learning,  and  their  social  position.  He  possessed  the  happy 
versatile  facultj'  of  adapting  himself  in  pleasant  ways  and  with 


J 


LIKE    OF    nisilol'    I'lNKNEY.  lil? 

no  assumptions  of  di^^nity  to  tlic  jthiincst  and  lowliest  in  lift-,  luitl 
at  the  same  time  ol*  heinj^-  peifectlj-  at  ease  and  in  lull  aceord  of 
manner  and  bearin<>-  with  the' most  learned  and  cultured  in  the 
higher  spheres  of  refined  society,  among  whom  were  some  of  his 
warmest  friends  and  greatest  admirers,  wliile  it  was  beiiutifiil  to 
see  how  the  poor,  sick,  and  decrejjit  negro  could  lo\e  and  revere 
him. 

Soon  after  his  return  from  Nantucket  the  liisiiop  left  Washing- 
ton to  spend  a  few  weeks  at  the  AVliite  Sulphur  as  the  giu*st  of 
his  friend,  Mr.  Corcoran.  F})()n  his  return  to  Washington  he 
wrote  to  Mr.  C.  as  follows : 

'*  My  Dear  Mr.  Corcoran  :  I  havi'  to  tliank  yoa  for  ii  very  i)lfiisiiiit  sojoin-ii 
at  the  White  Sulphur,  and  a  thousand  othi'r  tokens  of  your  j^enerositv  and 
love.  LauLCUa^e  is  weak  thon<jh  the  heart  is  full.  'Tis  oftt-n  so.  The  power 
of  expression  fulls  below  the  magnetism  of  the  heart.  I  should  love  to  lin^'cr 
longer  in  the  nuauitains,  and  listen  to  their  elocjui-nt  utterances,  wliili-  I  hfjd 
sueh  sweet  converse  with  the  choice  spirits  around  nie.  liut  duty  culls, 
and  I  must  obey. 

••  I  rejoice  to  think  that  you  are  so  much  better,  I  think,  even  strouj^er 
than  you  were  last  summer.  Hundreds  then'  are  who  will  more  than  echo 
my  thanksgiving  to  GOD  for  this  signal  instanci'  of  His  love,  for  they  live 
in  the  sunshine  yoti  diffuse,  and  drink  of  the  dew-dro])s  you  scatter  ontheir 
paths.  It  is  a  blessed  thing  to  be  able  to  feel  with  lioly  .Job.  '  I  was  eyes 
to  the  blind  and  feet  to  the  lame,'  '  when  the  ear  heard  me,  tlien  it  l)lessed 
me,  and  when  their  eye  saw  me  it  gave  witness  to  me."  '  I  delivered  the 
poor  that  cried,  and  the  fatherless,  and  him  that  had  none  to  help  him.' 

"  You  are  privileged  to  walk  amid  the  flowers  of  your  own  planting,  and 
in  the  sweet  consciousness  that  you  give  the  hue,  and  the  freshness,  and  the 
blo(jm  of  flowers  to  others — not  those  flowers  that  fade,  but  live  on  and  live 
ever  in  the  garden  of  the  heart.  A  lienefactor  of  your  race,  you  move  among 
men,  while  you  acknowledge  in  all  humility  the  grace  which  crowns  you 
from  above  which  enables  you  to  break  the  alaliaster  box  over  the  sulTeriug 
members  of  your  LOKD.  I  hope  that  the  sun  of  your  life  will  linger  long 
in  its  circuit,  and  when  at  last  it  goes  down,  I  ho^je  it  will  be  in  a  golden 
sunset  where  the  light  of  the  two  worlds  will  meet,  and  mingle  the  light  of 
the  love  that  has  made  glad  the  cottage  of  the  poor,  and  light  of  the  love 
that  feeds  its  fires  in  the  bosom  of  the  Infinite. 

"The  honor  of  your  friendship  is  the  honor  of  my  life,  and  one  of  the 
sweetest  memories  of  that  life  is  the  love  you  have  l)orue  me,  the  least  of  the 
many  you  haA'e  taken  to  your  confidence,  though  not  the  least  selfish  of 
theln  all.  I  cherish  the  thought  that  in  all  my  intercourse  with  you  from 
the  moment  I  first  knew  you  to  the  j^resent  hour,  I  have  valued  you  for 
what  you  are,  aud  not  for  what  yon  have.  It  is  the  gold  of  the  heart — the 
golden  thotight  and  feelings  and  deeds  which  make  up  your  character,  that 
so  win  itpon  me — not  the  gold  that  perishes.  I  have  felt  the  stimulus  of 
yoiu-  example,  and  followed  in  your  steps.  May  GOD  keep  you  and  bless 
you  in  all  your  ways. 

••  Affectionately, 

••  W.  W.  Corcoran,  LL.  I).  W.   I'." 

Early  in  September  the  Bishoj)  resumed  and  cf)ntinued  his  visi- 
tations, with  scarcely  an  intermission,  except  for  a  few  days,  uji 
to  the  meetino-  of  the  Convention  in  ^Tav.  1SS8,  when  the  church 


318  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

in  the  diocese  engaged  in  the  interesting  services  of  the  Centen- 
nial Celebration. 

His  record  of  work  for  this  last  year  of  his  Episcopate  was  as 
follows  :  ''  Deacons  ordained.  5  :  confirmations.  1.386  :  sermons. 
149  :  addresses,  212."  To  which  is  to  be  added  the  consecration 
of  six  churches.  There  were  also  visits  to  colleges  and  schools 
at  their  commencement  seasons.  He  never  failed,  if  it  was  pos- 
sible for  him  to  go.  to  be  present  at  the  commencement  of  St. 
John's  College,  Annapolis,  and  at  the  closing  exercises  of  the 
Hannah  More  Diocesan  School  for  Girls.  There  were  also  several 
private  schools  in  which  he  took  great  interest,  to  which  he  gave 
medals  for  best  scholar shij^,  and  at  the  close  of  which  he  was 
wont  to  be  present.  It  is  easy  to  see  how  the  whole  of  a  busy 
life  can  be  thus  filled  uj)  with  work. 

At  Christmas,  while  at  home,  he  wrote  to  Mr.  Corcoran  this 
letter  : 

•'Decemher  26,  1882. 

"  My  Deak  Mr.  Cokcoeax  :  I  have  a  desire  to  be  icleutitied  with  the  day 
of  yoiir  birth  in  some  humble  way,  and  I  therefore  ask  you  to  accept  of  a 
little  inkstand  in  token  of  my  love.  It  is  beautifully  symbolic,  simple 
though  it  be.  Pride,  contentment,  comfort  are  sweetly  represented  in  a  hen 
with  her  little  brood,  that  sort  of  pride  which  is  most  commendable,  the  off- 
spring of  a  happy  consciousness  of  blessings  thankfully  received  and  grandly 
used.  Contentment,  which  is  a  s\;V)lime  acceptance  of  what  GOD  bestows, 
and  a  meek  submission  of  our  will  to  GOD'S.  Comfort,  which  is  the  repose 
of  the  soul  on  the  bosom  of  the  Infinite.  No  one  has  had  more  cause  to 
rejoice  in  the  ability  to  do  kindly  deeds  to  his  fellows  and  the  heart  to  do 
them,  than  you.  No  one  has  had  more  cause  to  revel  in  the  graces  of  con- 
tentment and  comfort. 

"One  thing  is  very  toviching  in  this  symbolic  pictiire,  and  that  is  the 
folding  of  the  wings  over  a  part  of  the  little  brood.  You  remember  who  it 
was  who  said,  '  I  will  gather  thee  i;nder  My  wings,'  '  The  everlasting  wings 
are  over  you.'  And  now  in  the  calm  simset  of  yoiir  life,  it  miist  be  a  comfort 
to  know  that  you  have  folded  the  wings  of  your  charity  over  the  daughters 
of  sorrow.  Eighty-odd  years  are  a  crown  of  glory  when  they  can  find  their 
types  in  the  dew-drops  and  the  sun's  warm  ray. 

•'  May  many  more  be  added  I  This  I  could  wish  f^)r  the  good  of  others.  You 
have  in  a  siibordinate  sense,  as  an  instrument  of  GOD,  given  '  beauty  for 
ashes,  the  oil  of  joy  for  mourning,  and  the  garment  (jf  praise  f(jr  the  spirit 
of  heaviness.'  I  have  come  t<j  be  grateful  for  the  love  you  have  shown  me. 
I  may  not  live  to  greet  you  on  another  of  these  blessed  anniversaries.  You 
will,  then,  greatly  oblige  me  if  you  will  now  and  then  use  this  inkstand  when 
you  sign  yoi;r  name  to  any  of  your  letters  of  benefaction  or  heart  greeting, 
and  when  your  sign  it.  think  sometimes  of  (jne  who  often  thinks  of  you. 

"  Affectionatelv, 
•  \V.  W.  CoKCOKAX,  LL.  D.  ■  W.  P." 

This  letter  was  followed,  in  February,  by  another,  which  is  the 
last  we  find  in  the  MS.  volume  of  the  Bishop's  letters  carefully 
])reserved  and  filed  by  Mr.  Corcoran  :  and  from  some  of  its  inci- 
dental expressions  it  is  evident  that  his  health  was  seriously 
failing  under  his  too  arduous  work  : 


I 


LIFE    OF    I5ISH01'    I'lNKNKV.  Ill'.t 

'•  Filiriiiiri/  '.t.  iSHii. 

"My  Dear  Mr.  Corcoran  :  I  ic^'ii't  that  I  did  uot  r iv«>  your  curd  \iiitil 

just  iis  I  was  on  the  eve  of  leaviiiLC  Washington.  I  will  he  in  to-mormw,  and 
will  eall  to  see  you  in  the  morning'.  I  was  uji  at  clinrch  to  service,  hut  I 
am  very  unwell:   very,  vory  unwrll.      I  am  not  wont  to  sucoimh.  hut  I   find 

myself  just   now  tasked  to  tlu'  utmost.     So  far  as  my   will   jiowfr  i-  

eerned.  that  has  never  failed  me. 

"  All'cct innately, 
••  W.  W.  CoRCOR.\N.  LL.  D.  \V.   V. 


320  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 


CHAPTEE  XXXV. 

The  Centenary  Commemoration.     1883. 

The  Convention  wliicL  met  on  the  2ytli  of  May,  1883,  in  St, 
Peter's  Church,  Baltimore  city,  will  be  memorable  in  the  annals 
of  the  Church  in  Maryland.  It  commemorated  the  100th  anni- 
versary of  the  organization  of  the  diocese. 

As  early  as  1879,  in  the  convention  of  that  year,  a  movement 
was  made  for  "the  appointment  of  a  committee  to  unite  with  the 
Diocese  of  Easton  in  commemorating  the  100th  anniversary  of  the 
Primary  Convention." 

This  movement  originated  with  the  rector  of  Grace  Church, 
Baltimore,  the  Rev.  Dr.  George  Leeds,  than  whom  the  Church  in 
Maryland  has  never  had  a  presbyter  more  honored  and  beloved. 
AVhile  particularly  fitted  by  his  culture,  his  urbanity,  the  sweet- 
ness of  his  Christian  spirit,  and  his  active  priestly  ministrations 
for  his  important  pastoral  charge,  he  brought  to  the  work  of  the 
Church  in  the  diocese,  and  to  that  of  the  General  Church  in  the 
missionary  departments,  a  wisdom  and  zeal  marked  by  a  judicious 
comprehension  and  a  broad  Catholic  spirit.  Dr.  Leeds  felt  that 
it  was  due  to  the  position  of  the  Church  in  Maryland  and  to  her 
historic  character,  that  there  should  be  some  fitting  celebration 
of  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  her  organization. 

The  following  is  the  resolution  oftered  by  Dr.  Leeds: 

'*  Itenohed,  That  two  clergymen  aud  two  laymen  be  appointed  a  committee 
to  unite  with  the  Bishop  and  Assistant  Bishop  of  the  diocese,  if  it  meet  their 
approval,  in  representing  to  the  Convention  of  the  daughter  Diocese  of 
Easton  the  desirableness  of  a  joint  commemoration  of  the  close  of  the  first  one 
hundred  years  since  the  Primary  Convention  of  the  Church  in  Maryland, 
A.  D.  1780.  And  if  the  Bishop  of  Easton,  with  the  clergy  and  laity  of  liis 
diocese,  concur,  to  make  such  arrangements  as  may  l)e  mutually  convenient 
for  the  celel)ration  proposed,  and  report  the  same  to  the  next  convention. 

"  The  chair  appointed  as  the  (•ominittee  the  Eev.  George  Leeds,  D.  D.,  the 
Eev.  James  A.  McKenney,  D.  D.,  and  Messrs.  Elisha  .J.  Hall  and  Wm.  P. 
Young,  M.  D." 

At  the  Convention  of  the  next  year,  1880,  the  committee  pre- 
sented a  statement  touching  the  matter,  as  follows  : 

••  The  Piev.  Dr.  Leeds  presented  the  following  report,  which  was  mktpted: 
•'  The  coiiiinittee  appointed  at  the  last  convention  to  unite  with  the  Bishop, 
then  happily  with  us.  and  the  Assistant  Bishop  of  Maryland,  '  in  represent- 
ing to  the  Convention  of  the  daughter  Diocese  of  Easton  the  desirableness 
of  a  joint  commemoration  of  the  close  of  the  first  one  hundred  years  since 
the  Primary  Convention  of  the  Church  in  Maryland,'  respectfully  report : 
With  the  hearty  concurrence  of  both  the  Bishop  and  the  Assistant  Bishop  of 


LIFE    (IF    lUsllol'    I'IMsMV.  II'JI 

t  lie  diocese,  the  desiiableiiess  of  a  joiut  eoiiimeiuoratiou  of  the  one  hiiiulruihh 
aiiniveisai y  was  duly  siLjnified  to  the  Convention  >>t'  Easton.  whieh  rcHiiundt'd 
cordially  and  at  once:  and  steps  were  early  taken,  in  conjnnction  with  its 
IJishop  and  a  special  coniniittee  of  the  dani;hter  diocese,  to  make  sin'h 
arrauijenieuts  as  should  he  mutually  convenient  ami  satisfactory.  The  veuer- 
alileBishop  of  Maryland  promised,  as  his  contribution,  should(K)l)  sjxire  hiH 
life,  the  '  History  of  an  Episcojjate  of  Forty  Years.'  Chest ertown  wa.s 
selected  as  the  place,  and  the  Uth  of  November.  IHH(\,  as  tlie  time  f(ir  the 
Centennial  ^atherin;,' :   and  should  it,  for  any  n-asou,  be  found  impractieabh' 

to  assemble  <in  the  spot  of  the  ))riniary  council,  it  was  iindersi 1  and  a^'reed 

that  the  ^atlierinij;  should  be  in  Baltimore.  All  i)relimiuaries  for  the  meetiuj^, 
beyond  the  appointment  of  speakers,  were  left,  by  consent,  with  the  Com- 
mittee of  Maryland. 

"  Within  a  few  weeks  past  it  has  been  publicly  annoimced  that  the  Church 
at  Chestertowu  must  be  taken  down  this  summer  to  make  way  for  a  better, 
and  more  recently  it  appt'ars  that  the  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary 
of  the  foiindiuLT  of  Baltimore  is  to  be  celel)rated  in  October,  on  a  scale  of 
j)roportions  which  will  throw  into  the  shade  all  other  counnemorations  of  a 
local  character.  In  view  of  which  facts,  and  the  yet  uncompleted  arran^"- 
meuts  for  a  proper  observance  of  the  ecclesiastical  century,  the  Joint  (,'om- 
mittee  of  the  dioceses,  together  with  the  Right  Reverend,  the  Bishoi)s  of  the 
same,  recommend  a  postponement,  or  passing  over,  of  the  festival  ilesigned 
to  have  been  held  in  Noveniljer  :  and  this  they  do  with  the  less  hesitation, 
becaiise  the  first  onehuudred  years  of  conventional  history,  according  to  the 
journals  of  the  Convention  of  Maryland,  will  not  be  rounded  out  until  three 
years  hence,  when  fresh  order  can  be  taken,  if  then  thought  desirable. 

■•  The  committee,  therefore,  present,  as  a  moti<m  of  their  own,  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Joiut  Committee,  and  ask  to  V)e  discharged. 

GEORGE  LEEDS.  Chniiinan. 

J.  A.  McKENNEY. 

WM.  P.  YOUNG. 

E.  J.  HALL." 

Final  action  upon  this  matter,  of  which  the  followino-  is  the 
record,  was  taken  in  the  Diocesan  Convention  of  l.SS'i  : 

•'  The  Rev.  Dr.  Leeds  offered  the  following  resolution,  which  \\a^  adopted: 
''  JResolved.  That,  as  the  next  annual  convention  of  this  diocese  will  be  the 
one  hundredth  in  order,  since  the  organization  of  the  Cluu-ch  in  Maryland, 
a  committee,  consisting  of  the  rectors  of  the  three  oldest  churches  in  Balti- 
more, viz.,  St.  Paul's,  St.  Peter's,  and  Christ  Church,  of  the  venerable 
parish  of  St.  Anne's,  Annapolis,  and  of  the  mother  church,  Christ  Cluu-ch, 
in  Washington,  together  with  Dr.  John  M.  Bronie.  of  St.  Mary's  county, 
Mr.  E.  J.  Hall,  of  Montgomery  county,  and  such  other  persons  as  saifl  com- 
mittee may  select  with  a  view  to  representing  the  various  parts  of  the  dio- 
cese, be  appointed  to  prejiare  for  an  appropriate  commemoration  of  this 
centennial  anniversary,  in  connection  with  the  meeting  of  the  ne.\t  conven- 
tion. 

"  On  motion,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Leeds  was  added  to  the  committee. 
"  The  Rev.  Dr.  Hutton  offered  the  following  resolution,  which  was  carried  : 
'•Resolred,  That  the  committee  on  the  centennial  celebration  be  re(juested 
to  communicate  with  the  Dioce.se  of  Easton,  and  to  invite  a  delegation  from 
that  diocese  to-unite  in  the  proposed  centennial  celebration." 

To  these  resohitions  was  suliseqitently  added  another.  i)reseiited 
l)y  the  Rev.  George  A.  Leakin,  one  of  the  t)hh'st  of  the  native 
Maryland  clergy,  who  had  made  very  considerable  researches  Luto 


322  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKXEY. 

tlie  early  history  of  the  parishes  of  the  diocese,  and  had  rescued 
from  olihviou  many  interesting  facts  in  relation  to  their  condition 
in  the  Colonial  and  subsequent  periods  : 

'  ■  The  Rev.  Mr.  Leakiu  offered  tlie  f ollowiug  resolution,  which  was  adopted : 
"  Wherens,  This  couveiitiou  has  taken  order  for  the  proper  observance  of 
the  centennial  eelehratinn  of  the  organization  of  the  Church  in  the  Diocese 
of  Maryland : 

^'Hesolced,  That  each  rector  be  earnestly  requested  to  co-operate  in  the 
presentation  of  this  subject  before  his  parish  or  congregation,  and  to  place 
among  the  records  of  the  diocese  any  sermon  or  address,  together  with  any 
manuscripts,  which  may  illustrate  oixr  Colonial  Diocesan  History." 

The  whole  narrative  of  this  '•  Centenary  Commemoration."  pre- 
l^ared  and  published  under  the  action  of  the  Joint  Committee  of 
Maryland  and  Easton,  by  the  secretary,  the  Rev.  Eobert  "Wilson, 
D.  D.,  of  the  latter  diocese,  is  so  complete  and  mteresting.  that 
it  is  transferred  verbatim  to  these  pages : 

COMMEMORATION. 


"  At  the  Xixety-Xixth  Anxual  Session  of  the  Convention  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Chiu-ch  in  the  Diocese  of  Maryland,  held 
in  the  Church  of  the  Epiphany.  "Washington,  D.  C.  on  Thursday. 
June  1st  (Second  Day),  1882.  the  Rev.  Dr.  Leeds  offered  the 
following  Resolution,  which  was  adopted  : 

Resolved,  That,  as  the  next  Annual  Convention  of  this  Diocese  will  be  the 
One  Hundredth  in  order  since  the  organization  of  the  Church  in  Maryland, 
a  Committee,  consisting  of  the  Eectors  of  the  three  oldest  Churches  in  Bal- 
timore, viz.,  St.  Paul's.  St.  Peter's,  and  Christ  Church,  of  the  venerable 
Parish  of  St.  Anne's,  Annapolis,  and  of  the  Mother  Church,  Christ  Church, 
in  Washington,  together  with  Dr.  John  M.  Brome.  of  St.  Mary's  County. 
Mr.  E.  J.  Hall,  of  Montgomery  Coirnty,  and  such  other  persons  as  said 
Committee  may  select  with  a  view  to  representing  the  various  parts  of  the 
Diocese,  be  a^jpointed  to  prepare  for  an  aj^propriate  commemoration  of  this 
Centennial  Anniversary,  in  connection  with  the  meeting  of  the  next  Cou- 
A-ention. 

On  motion  the  Rev.  Dr.  Leeds  was  added  to  the  Committee. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Huttou  offered  the  following  Resolution,  which 
was  carried : 

Heifolved,  That  the  Committee  on  the  Centennial  Celebration  be  recjuested 
to  communicate  with  the  Diocese  of  Easton,  and  to  invite  a  delegation  from 
that  Diocese  to  unite  in  the  proposed  Centennial  Celebration. 

In  accordance  with  the  above  Resokitions  a  communication  was 
addi-essed  to  the  Rt.  Rev.  the  Bishop  of  Easton  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Leeds,  who  also  appeared  in  person  lief  ore  the  Convention  of  the 
Diocese  of  Easton.  holding  its  Fourteenth  Annual  Session  in  St. 
James*  Church,  Port  Dei^osit,  on  Thursday.  June  7th,  1882 
(Second  Day),  and  extended  to  the  Convention  the  invitation 
contemplated  by  the  above  Resolution  of  Dr.  Hutton. 


LIFE    or    l;iS||()l'    I'INKNKV.  323 

On  motion  of  Kev.  Dr.  Barber  flu-  sul.jcct   was  ntVrr.Ml  t..  a 
special   Committee,  and  tlie  President   apj-ointed  us  siieh  dnn- 
mittee  the  Eev.  Messrs.  George  F.  Beaveii  aii.l  James  A.  MUchell 
and  Messrs.  AVm.  R.  Hayward  and  Jdlni  S.  Wiit. 

The  Eev.  Mr.  Leakin.  of  the  Diocese  of  :\luryland.  also  ad<hess<(l 
the  Convention  in  reference  to  the  subject. 

After  dne  consideration  the  Rev.  G.  F.  Beaven,  from  the 
Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  Conmiunication  from  the 
Diocese  of  Maryland,  i)resented  the  followinj,^  nqwrt.  The 
resolution  proposed  by  the  Committee  was  thereuixm  adopted: 

The  Committee  to  whom  wa«  referred  the  Comimiuicatiun  from  the  Di.i- 
cese  of  Miirylaud  invitino;  the  Diocese  of  Eastt.n  to  unite  with  her  in  cele. 
bratiut,'  the  Centenary  of  the  Organization  of  tlie  Diocese.  Ijey  to  report  as 
foUows :  " 

Whereas.  The  recent  Convention  of  the  Diocese  of  Maryhind.  by  resuhi- 
tion.  determined  to  celelnate  the  Centennial  of  tiie  Orj,'anization'of"the  Dio. 
cese.  and  at  the  same  time  extended  to  the  Dioce.se  of  East<m.  its  dau<;hter. 
a  cordial  invitation  to  unite  with  her  in  this  service  of  loving  conmieTnora- 
tion  :  therefore. 

Rexolved,  That  this  Convention,  heartily  sympathizing  with  the  Mother 
Diocese  in  everything  pertaining  to  her  past  "history  and  future  prosji.-rity. 
hereby  authorizes  and  requests  its  Presi(h'nt  to  ajjpoint  a  committee  of  three 
Clergymen  and  three  Laymen  to  eo-o])(Tate  with  the  committee  on  the  j>art 
of  the  Diocese  of  Maryland  appointed  to  arrange  for  the  jirojMjsed  Centen- 
nial Celebration. 

GEO.  F.  HEAVEN. 
R.  C.  MACK.VLL. 
JAMES  A.  MFFCHELL. 

Ill  accordance  with  the  above  Report,  the  President  announced 
as  the  Committee  on  the  Maryland  Celebration,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Barton,  the  Rev.  Dr.  AVilson,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rol)ert8.  Messrs.  I.  L. 
Adkins,  M.  D.,  G.  R.  Goldsborouo-h,  and  W.  S.  Walker. 

On  Thursday,  July  6th,  1S(S2.  pursuant  to  a  call  issued  bv  the 
Rev.  J.  S.  B.^Hodges,  S.  T.  D.,  on  behalf  of  the  Comu'iittee 
appointed  by  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese  of  ^Maryland,  a 
majority  of  the  members  of  said  Committee,  together  with  a 
majority  of  the  Committee  of  Conference  appointed  h\  order  of 
the  Convention  of  the  Diocese  of  Easton.  assembled  in  the  Ves- 
try-Room of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Baltimore,  at  12  m.  There  were 
])resent,  the  Rev.  Messrs.  J.  S.  B.  Hodges.  S.  T.  D.,  Geoi-ge  Leeils. 
D.  D.,  Julius  E.  Grammer,  D.  D.,  Walter  W.  Williams.  D.  D..  and 
C.  D.  AndreAvs,  and  Mr.  E.  J.  Hall,  representuig  the  Diocese  of 
Maryland,  and  on  the  part  of  Easton,  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Jno.  (). 
Barton,  D.  D..  Robert  Wilson.  D.  D.,  and  Stephen  C.  Roberts 
and  Dr.  Isaac  L.  Adkins. 

After  preliminary  action,  a  permanent  organization  was  eft'ected. 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Leeds  being  elected  Chaii-mau  and  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Wilson  Secretary  of  the  Joint  Committee. 

Under  authority  of  the  original  Resolution  of  the  Couveutiou 


324 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    I'lNKXEY. 


of  Maryland,  empowering  the  Committee  to  add  to  its  numbers^ 
the  following  General  Execvitive  Committee  was  appointed  : 

Membem  of  the  original  Joint   Committee  ns  appointed  by  the  Binhops  of 
Maryland  and  Eaaton  under  Resolution  of  their  renpectite  Conventions. 

For  Makylaxd. 

Kev.    Dr.    Hodges,  of  Baltimoi'e.  Rev.    Mr.  Andrews,  of  Washington. 

Leeds,  "  ••         "     Soutligate,   of  Annapolis. 

Grammer,  '*  Dr.  John  M.  Brome,  of  St.  Mary's  Co. 

•■       "       Williams,  "  Mr.  E.    J.  Hall,  of  Montgomery   Co, 


Kev, 


Eev. 


John  0.  Barton, 

,  D.  D 

Dr. 

Robert    Wilson, 

D.  D, 

Mr. 

Stephen  C.  Roberts, 

'• 

Additional. 

Dr.  Huttou, 

Rev. 

Dr, 

,  Riddut, 

"    Gordon, 

■• 

Lindsay, 

"    Addison, 

Mr. 

Chew,  ' 

"    Sterns, 

•' 

Leakiu, 

' '    Barber, 

i( 

" 

E.F.Dashiell, 

"    Rich, 

Laymen. 

Foe  Easton. 

Isaac  L.  Adkins, 
William  S.  Walker, 
George  R.  Goldsborough. 


Rey.  Mr.  George  F.  Beaveu, 

'•    O.  Ingle, 
"        "    Wm.  F.  Lockwood, 

"    Wm.  F.  Brand, 
,  "        "    Hall  Harrison, 

"     Walter  A     Mitchell. 


Mr. 


Wm.  H.  Perot, 
John  E.  Hurst, 
S.  G.  Wymau, 
Henry  sl  Taylor, 
Reverdy  Johnson, 
W.  W.  Corcoran, 
James  K.  Harwood, 
Levin  Woolford, 
Lewis  J.  Davis, 
A.  Bowie  Davis, 
Samuel  Cross, 


Mr.  Charles  Abert,        Mr. 

"  J.  H.  B.  Latrobe,     *> 

"  J.  Hall  Pleasants,  Dr. 

"  Wm.  Woodward,    Mr. 

"  Daniel  M.  Henry, 

'•  S.  S.  McMasters,       " 

E.  G.  Ferine. 

"  Skipwith  Wilmer,     " 

"  Chas.  F.  Taylor,       " 

"  Wm.  Keyser, 


C.  F.  Mayer, 
Robert  M.  Proud, 
Saml.  A.  Harrison, 
Saml.  P.  Thompson, 
Thomas   Cradock, 
Chas.  M.  Matthews, 

C.  ^lorton    Stewart, 

D.  W.  Middleton, 
Edgar  G.  Miller, 
George  T.  Hollyday. 


The  Officers  elected  were  the  Rev.  George  Leeds,  D.  D.,  Chair- 
man, the  Rev.  Robert  Wilson,  D.  D.,  Secretary,  and  Mr.  Robert 
M.  Proud,  Treasurer. 

A  Resolution  was  adopted  requesting  the  Rt.  Rev.  the  Bishops 
of  Maryland  and  Easton  to  advise  and  co-operate  with  the  Com- 
mittee. 

It  was  further  resolved  that  the  Order  of  Services  on  the  occa- 
sion of  the  i)roposed  Celebration  be  as  follows : 

A  Service  to  be  held  in  St.  Paul's  Chiu-ch.  Baltimore,  on  Tuesday. 
May  2yth,  18S8.  at  11  o'clock  a.  m.,  the  Rt.  Rev.  the  Bishop  of 
Easton  being  invited  to  deliver  thereat  an  Historical  Discourse 
on  "  The  Colonial  Church  in  Maryland."' 

A  Service  to  be  held  in  St.  Peter's  Church,  Baltimore,  on 
Wednesday,  May  30th,  1883,  at  10  o'clock  a.  m.,  the  Rt.  Rev.  the 
Bishop  of  Maryland  being  requested  to  deliver  thereat  an  His- 
torical Discourse  on  "'The  Church  in  Maryland  since  the  Organi- 
zation of  the  Diocese." 


LIFE    or    r.lSllol'    IINKNKV.  :{-J.') 

[Bisho})  Piiikiu'v  luivin-^-  sul)sc(Hitiitly  si^^iiilic.l  lii^   iiuwilliii^' 
iiess  to  change  the  tiuie-hoiioied  custoiu  of  the  DiiK-ese  by  thuH 
taking   the    ^Maee   of  the  usually  appointed   iireaclier  l>efore  tlie 
Convention,  at  the  retpiest  of  the  Committee  ai)pointe<l  the  Uev. 
Dr.  Hutton  to  deliver  the  contemplated  discourse  in  his  stead.] 

A  Service  to  be  held  in  Cluist  Clniich.  Jialtimon-.  on  tlu'  j-veu- 
ing  of  Wednesday,  at  which  the  Rt.  Kev.  the  Bishops  of  Western 
New  York  and  North  Carolina,  and  the  Uev.  Chas.  H.  Hall.  D.  D.. 
of  Brooklyn,  should  be  invited  to  deliver  addresses. 

The  expediency  of  holding  special  Centenary  Services  at  Ches- 
tertown  in  connection  with  the  Session  of  the  Fifteenth  Annual 
Convention  of  the  Diocese  of  Easton,  was  referred  to  the  mem- 
bers of  the  General  Executive  Committee  from  that  Diocese  under 
advice  of  the  Bishop  of  Easton.  It  was  further  resolved  to  give 
a  Collation  to  the  mendjers  of  the  two  Conventions  and  other 
guests  at  Lehmann's  Hall,  on  the  evening  of  Tuesday.  May  2".tth, 
1883,  at  which  addresses  should  be  delivered  l)y  invited  and  vol- 
unteer speakers. 

The  following  Sul)-Comniittees  were  then  appointed  and  the 
details  of  the  proposed  Celebration  entrusted  to  their  care : 

I.   On  Religioi's  Services. 
The  Rii^'ht  Eev.  the  Bishop  of  Maryliind.  Rev.  Dr.  H...li;es. 

The  Right  Rev.  the  Bishop  of  Easton.  "     "     (iraiiimer. 

Williiiiii'i. 

II.    Ox    HoSPIT.\LITY. 

Mr.  S.  P.  Thompson,         Mr.  E.  (t.  Ferine,  Mr.  Chas.  F.  Mayer, 

"     Reverdv  Johnson,         "     Skijjwith  Wihner,       Rev.  Dr.  Graninier, 
''    Henry  S.  Taylor,  "    Charh-s  F.  Tayh)r.        "        "    Williams. 

III.  On  Historical  Discourses  and  Publications. 
liev.  Arthur  J.  Rich.  M.D.  Rev.  R.  Wilson.  D.  D.     Mr.  Lewis  J.  Davis. 
"     Hall  Harrison.  "      C.D.Andrews.        I.  L.  Adkins.  M.  D. 

Mr.  E.  J.  Hall. 

lY.  On  Archives  and  Original  Documents. 

Rev.  John  H.  Chew,  Rev.  Wm.  F.  Brand,  Mr.  G.  R.  Gol<lslM,roUi,'li. 

'•      George  A.  Leakin,      ••       W.  F.  Loekwood,        ••     William  S.  Widk.-r. 

O.  Hutton,  D.  D.        "      Saml.  Ridout,  M.  1).   "     A.  Bowi.-  Davis. 

S.C.Roberts,  '•       Wm.  S.  Southgate,      '•     Wni.  Woodward. 

T.  P.  Barber,  D.  D.   "       S.  R.  Gordon,  D.  D.   "     Levin  Woolford. 

"      E.  J.  Stearns,  D.  D.   "      O.  Ingle,  "    Charles  Abert. 

•'      J.  0.  Barton,  D.  D.   '•       W.  A.' Mitchell.         Dr.  S.  A.  Harrison. 

Mr.  Gro.  T.  II..llydav. 
V.  On  Finance. 
Mr.  Robert  M.  Proud,      Mr.  John  E.  Hurst,  Mr.  C.  Morton  St-'wart. 

••    Wm.  H.Perot,  "    E.G.Miller,  "    Chas.  M.  Matth.-ws, 

"    J.  Hall  Pleasants.         "     Wm.  Kevscr,  •'    Thomas  Cradoi-k. 

"    W.W.Corcoran,  "    D.  W.  Middlet.m. 

Meetings  of  the  General  Executive  Connuittee  were  subse- 
Cjuently  held  in  Baltimore  on  October  :3d  ami  December  r)th.  iSM'i, 
and  on  January  30th,  April  3d,  :\ray  22nd  and  :^[ay  31st,  1SS3. 


326  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

These  meetings  were  largely  occui^ied  by  the  routine  business 
necessarily  incident  to  the  carrying  through  of  such  a  project  as 
that  in  hand.  They  were  marked  by  hearty  co-operation  and  an 
active  and  discreet  zeal  on  the  part  of  individual  members,  which 
signally  contributed  to  ultimate  success.  These  meetuigs  were 
saddened  by  the  absence,  on  account  of  serious  illness,  of  the 
Chairman,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Leeds,  and  by  the  death  of  two  of  the 
members  of  the  General  Committee,  viz :  the  Rev.  Wm.  F.  Lock- 
wood  and  Samuel  G.  "Wyman.  Another  member  of  the  Commit- 
tee, the  Rev.  T.  P.  Barber,  D.  D.,  Rector  of  Great  Choptank  Par- 
ish, was  sorely  tried  by  the  destruction  of  his  Parish  Church  by 
fire  on  Thanksgi^•ing  Day.  In  all  these  cases  suitable  resolutions 
of  sympathy  were  adopted. 

Invitations  were  extended  to  the  Rt.  Rev.  the  Bishops  of  Con- 
necticut and  Pennsylvania  to  take  part  in  the  Centenary  exercises. 
Both,  however,  to  the  great  loss  and  regret  of  the  Committee, 
were  prevented  from  attending,  the  former  by  pressure  of  Dio- 
cesan duties  and  the  latter  by  indisposition. 

The  Rt.  Rev.  the  Bishop  of  Maryland  was  respectfully  requested, 
if  agreeable  to  his  judgment,  to  take  order  for  special  selections 
from  Holy  Scripture,  and  Special  Prayers  and  Thanksgivings,  to 
be  used  at  the  Centenary  Services.  In  accordance  with  this 
request,  a  Special  Order  of  Services  was  afterwards,  by  his  author- 
ity, set  forth  and  used. 

Opening  Sekvice  in  St.  Paul's  Church. 

On  Tuesday,  May  29th,  1883,  the  Services  in  celebration  of  the 
Centenary  of  the  Diocese  of  Maryland  were  opened  by  the  admin- 
istration of  the  Holy  Communion  in  St.  Paul's  Church  at  9.30 
A.  M.  to  a  large  assembly  of  the  Clergy  and  Laity,  the  Rt.  Rev. 
AV.  Pinkney,  D.  D.,  ofificiatiug.  assisted  by  the  Rev.  J.  S.  B.  Hodges, 
D.  D.,  and  the  Rev.  George  A.  Leakin. 

At  11  o'clock  the  Church  was  filled  by  an  immense  congrega- 
tion, and  as  the  rich  tones  of  the  organ  pealed  theii'  glad  welcome 
to  the  day,  the  solemn  and  imposing  procession  of  Bishops  and 
Clergy  entered  from  the  Choir-Room  and  proceeding  down  the 
north  aisle,  advanced  up  the  nave  towards  the  chancel,  chanting 
the  words  of  the  138th  Hymn,  ■'  Holy,  Holy,  Holy,  Lord  God 
Almighty,"  the  congregation  joining  their  voices  to  swell  the 
mighty  wave  of  melody  which  rolled  upward  in  rhythmic  jDraise. 
It  was  an  experience  long  to  be  remembered,  and  rarely  known 
by  any  worshipping  assembly  beyond  the  great  cathedral  walls 
of  our  ^Mother  Church  of  Englanct.  "  The  Singers  went  before," 
the  suri)liced  Choristers  leading  the  procession,  followed  by 
about  one  hundred  robed  Clergy,  the  Rt.  Rev.  the  Bishops  of 
^Maryland,  Easton,  "Western  New  York,  Delaware  and  North  Caro- 
lina bringing  up  the  rear.     As  the  ranks  of  the  clergy  opened  in 


LIFE    OF    lilSHol'    I'INKNKV.  ;{'27 

the  nave,  the  Bishops  passed  Itctwcfii.  un.l  ciitcnMl  the  fhuncel 
followed  by  the  oflficiatin-^-  Priests.  The  rest  of  the  clerj^'v  took 
places  in  the  reserved  })ews,  where  a  lar^^e  niuuber  of  their 
unro])ed  brethren  had  already  asseinl»led. 

The  following  Order  of  Service  was  then  obsei'vecL 

Morning-  Prayer,  with  the  viii  Selection  of  Psiihns,  -tlie  Rev. 
Robert  Wilson,  D.  D.,  of  Easton. 

First  Lesson,  J^lvekiel  xlvii  :  to  v.  18, — the  Rev.  Ai'thin-  J.  IJich, 
M.  D.,  of  Maryland,  Dean  of  the  Convocation  of  Baltimore. 

Second  Lesson,  Jitc.  xxii, — the  Rev.  Erastus  F.  Diishiell.  1).  1)., 
of  Easton. 

The  Creed  and  Prayers  following, — the  Rev.  Orlando  Hutton, 
D.  D.,  of  Maryland,  w'ith 

After  t/ie  (ieneral  ThaiikHfihinr/.  tin  foUinriny  : 

O  Thou,  who,  iiecovdiug  to  Thy  abiindaiit  mercy,  hath  blessed  us  with  all 
spiritual  blessings  in  Christ  :  accept,  O  God  of  our  fathers,  this  our  sacrifice 
of  most  humble  and  hearty  thanks  for  Thy  goodness,  which  we  this  day 
<'<)mmemorate,  in  giving  i;s  an  heritage  in  Thy  Holy  Church. 

We  praise  and  magnify  Thy  Holy  Name  for  our  creation  and  preservation  ; 
for  our  redemption  and  regeneration  :  for  our  instruction  in  Thy  Word  and 
the  teaching  of  Thy  Spirit:  for  Thy  patience  and  long-suffering:  for  our 
repentance  and  renewal:  for  the  comforts  of  Thy  grace  and  the  hojjc  of  a 
ha^jpy  resurrection  :  for  our  communion  with  Thy  saints  anil  the  grace  of 
Thy  Sacraments  :  for  all  who  have  done  us  good  by  their  writings  or  dis- 
courses, l)y  their  prayers  or  examples,  l>y  their  reproofs  or  persecutions. 

i'or  all  these  we  praise  Thee  and  will  praise  Thee  :  we  bless  Thee  and  will 
Ijless  Thee;  we  thank  Thee  and  will  give  Thee  thanks  forever,  through 
Jesus  Cheist  cub  Loed.     Ameit. 

The  Communion  Office  was  said  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  R.  Gor- 
don, D.  D.,  of  Maryland,  with 

After  the  Collect  for  the  day,  the  folloiring : 

Be  mindful,  we  beseech  Thee.  O  Loed  our  God,  of  Thy  Church  in  the 
Dioceses  of  Maryland  and  Easton  :  of  the  Bishops  who  preside  over  them  ; 
of  the  clergy  who  minister  therein,  and  of  all  the  members  of  the  same. 
Endure  us  with  all  spiritual  gifts,  and  grant  us  grace  to  contend  earnestly 
for  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints  :  but  not  to  the  breach  of  charity 
or  to  the  denying  of  another's  hope,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 
Amen. 

Oh  Thou,  who  art  the  confidence  of  all  the  ends  of  the  earth,  remember 
every  work  of  Thine  hand  for  good  and  visit  the  world  in  Thy  mercy. 
Amen. 

0  Lord,  Thoii  Lover  of  Mankinil,  think  graciously  of  all  our  race,  but 
especially  we  pray  Thee  to  bless  Thine  Holy  Catholic  Church,  ami  fill  it 
with  truth  and  grace.  Where  it  is  corrupt,  purge  it  ;  where  it  is  in  error 
direct  it :  where  it  is  right,  strengthen  and  confirm  it  :  where  it  is  divided. 
unite  it  in  holy  love,  and  so  establish  it,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world, 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.     Atnen. 

The  lutroit  was  the  277tli  Hymn,  "  AVith  one  consent  let  all 
the  earth." 


328  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PIXKXEY. 

The  Epistle  was  read  by  the  Rev.  Theo.  P.  Barber.  D.  D..  of 
Eastou.  and  the  Gospel  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Arthur  Cleveland  Coxe, 
D.  D..  LL.  D..  Bishop  of  Western  XeAv  York. 

The  202nd  Hymn.  ''  The  Church's  One  Foundation,""  was  then 
sung,  and  seldom  has  its  rendering  been  excelled. 

The  Rt.  Rev.  Henry  Champlin  Lay.  D.  D..  LL.  D.,  Bishop  of 
Easton.  was  then  escorted  to  the  pulpit  h\  the  Rector,  the  Rev. 
J.  S.  B.  Hodges,  S.  T.  D.,  and  delivered  the  appointed  discourse, 
his  subject  being  "  77ie  Chtrrch  of  England  in  the  Colony  of 
Mdryland." 

The  Offertory  Sentence  was  said  by  the  Rev.  J.  S.  B.  Hodges, 
S.  T.  D.,  of  Maryland,  and  the  alms  of  the  congTegation  Avere 
collected  by  six  of  the  younger  clergy  in  their  vestments.  The 
Anthem  during  the  Offertory  was  the  Sentence,  "  This  God  is  our 
God  for  ever  and  ever :  He  shall  be  our  Guide  unto  death  ""  {Ps. 
xhiii :  13),  and  was  a  grand  and  inspiring  act  of  worship.  The 
Offerings  at  this  SerAice  Avere  for  Mission  AVork  in  the  Diocese 
of  Easton.  under  the  Bishop  of  that  Diocese. 

This  Service  was  conducted  throughout  in  the  most  reverent 
and  churchl}'  manner,  and  rai-ely  has  one  so  imposing  been  enjoyed 
by  the  chu.rchmen  of  this  country. 

Service  ox  the  Second  D.\y  in  St.  Peter's  Church. 

On  "Wednesday  morning  at  10  o'clock,  the  One  Hundredth 
Annual  Convention  of  the  Diocese  of  Maryland  assembled  in  St. 
Peter's  Church.  Baltimore.  The  Rt.  Rev.  the  Bishops  of  Mary- 
land, Easton.  Dehnvare.  Western  Xcav  York  and  North  Carolina. 
Avere  present  in  the  chancel.  In  accordance  Avith  the  custom  of 
the  Diocese,  the  clergy,  except  those  ajDj^ointed  to  officiate. 
occui:)ied  the  body  of  the  Church  unrobed,  together  with  the 
lay-delegates  to  the  Convention  and  a  large  and  reverent  congre- 
gation, among  whom  were  many  of  the  clergy  and  lay-rejiresenta- 
tives  of  the  daughter  Diocese  of  Easton.       . 

The  SerAice  was  opened  by  the  Rev.  Meyer  LeAvin,  D.  D..  Dean 
of  the  Convocation  of  Washington,  with  the  folloAving 

Operdraj  Sentences  : 

The  Lord  hath  been  mindful  of  us,  and  He  shall  bless  us  :  even  He  shall 
bless  the  House  of  Israel,  He  shall  bless  the  house  of  Aaron. 

He  shall  bless  them  that  fear  the  Lokd,  both  small  and  great. — Ps.  cxv  : 
12.  13. 

O  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord  :  for  He  is  gracious,  and  His  mercy  endureth 
forcA^er. 

AVho  can  express  the  noble  acts  of  the  Loed,  or  sheAv  forth  all  his  praise  ? 

Blessed  are  they  that  always  keep  judgment,  and  do  righteousness. 

Kemend)er  me,  O  Lokd,  according  to  the  favor  that  Thou  bearest  unto 
Thy  pcDjilf  :    O  visit  me  thiit  I  may  see  Thy  salvation  : 

That  I  may  see  the  felicity  of  Thy  chosen,  and  give  thanks  with  Thine 
inheritance. — 7^*.  cvi :   1.2,  3,  4,  5. 


LIFE    or    r.lsilol-    I-INKNKV.  ;{'2<.| 

The  proper  Psulius  were  :    J's.  Ixxxiv  iuid  cxxxiv. 

The  Fu'st  Lesson:  Jsniah  xii,  wiis  read  l»y  the  \[v\.  James 
Stephenson,  S.  T.  D..  Dean  of  the  Convocati(»n  of  C'lmilx-rlaiitl. 

The  Second  Lesson  :  I  7'/i<',s.s.  v  :  to  v.  '27,  was  icad  l>v  llic  Rev. 
Arthur  J.  Rich,  M.  D.,  Dean  of  the  Convocation  of  lialtinioic. 

The  Service  from  the  Creed  was  said  hy  the  Ht.  Hcv.  Tlicoiloii- 
B.  Lyman,  D.  D.,  Bisliop  of  North  Carohna,  with 

Aftir  th(  ('(Ittntl  TlKinhsnlfiiKj.  tin  fulbnri nn  : 
0  Most  Blessed  and  Glorious  Loitu  God.  who  art  of  infinite  loudness,  and 
whose  mercy  is  over  all  Thy  works  ;  we.  Thy  servants,  do  offer  nnto  Thi-e 
our  thauksi;:ivin<j;  for  having  s(j  woudrously  prosj)cred  Thy  Cluireh  in  tliis 
Diocese  and  State  diirini,'  the  past  century.  And  we  lieseeVh  TIh-i-  niaki-  us 
deeply  sensible  of  Thy  j^reat  goodness,  and  give  us  liearts  always  rea<ly  to 
express  onr  thankfulness,  not  only  by  our  words,  but  in  our  lives,  by  yiehl- 
lug  prompt  ol)edience  to  Thy  holy  commandments  in  all  things.  Continue 
this  Thy  goodness  to  \is,  that  we  may  joyfully  serve  Thee  in  all  godly  (juiet- 
ness,  through  Thy  Son,  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  who  with  Thee  an<l  the 
Holy  Ghost,  liveth  and  reigneth.  one  God  over  all.  Blessed  fureverniore. 
Amen. 

The  Office  for  the  Holy  Communion  was  said  by  the  Ri;L,'ht 
Reverend  the  Bishop  of  Eastern,  assisted  l)y  the  Bisho})s  of  Mary- 
hind  and  North  Carohna,  the  CoHect  and  Ejjisth'  beino-  those  for 
the  22d  Sunday  after  Trinity  and  the  Gospel  that  for  St.  Peter's 
Day,  with 

AfUr  the  Collect,  the  fdlloiriiuj  : 

O  Most  Merciful  God,  bless  Thy  Church,  increase  in  it  unity  and  peace, 
make  all  the  mend)ers  of  it  sound  in  faith,  and  holy  in  life  :  that  they  may 
serve  Thee  acceptably,  and  that  Thou  mayest  be  their  Guide  unto  death, 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.     Amen. 

O  Almighty  God.  who  hast  in  all  ages  showed  forth  Thy  power  and  mercy 
in  a  wonderful  preservation  of  Thy  Church,  and  the  protection  of  every  peo- 
ple and  nation  that  profess  Thy  holy  and  eternal  Truth,  and  i)Ut  their  sure 
trust  in  Thee,  we  praise  Thee  for  Thy  goodness  to  us.  and  especially  for  the 
signal  mercies  we  commemorate  this  day.  Not  unto  us.  O  Lord,  not  unto 
us,  but  unto  Thy  name  be  ascribed  all  honor  and  glory  in  all  the  churches 
of  Thy  saints,  from  generation  to  generation,  through  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord.     Amen. 

The  Holy   Communion   was  administered  l)y  the  Rt.  Rev.  the 
Bishops  of  Easton.  Maryland,  and  North  Caroluia,  and  the  Rev. 
Julius  E.  Grammer,  D.  D.,  Rector  of  St.  Peters  Church,  Balti 
more. 

In  place  of  the  sermon,  the  Rev.  Orlando  Hutton,  D.  D.,  deliv 
erecl  an  Hist(n-ical  Discourse  ujjon  ••  I'he  Chio'ch  in   Mdri/Ininl 
since  thelVar  <*t' tlit  Ileroh(ti<>ti." 


On  Wednesd.w  Evexint.,  a  very  larpfe  conpfreofation  asscml)lcd 
in  Christ  Church,  and  the  usual  Missionary  Services  of  the  Con 
vention  Avere  held,  addresses  bein^-  made  l)y  the  Rt.  Rev.  the 
Bishops  of  Delaware  and  Western  New  York  and  the  Rev.  Chas. 
H.  Hall,  D.  D. 


330  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   PINKXEY. 

HOSPITALITIES 

AxD  Social  Gathering  at  Lehmaxn"s  Hall. 

The  Committee  of  Hospitality  was  charged  with  all  the  arrange ■ 
meuts  for  the  accommodation  of  its  guests  and  the  social  featva-e 
of  the  Centenary. 

As  a  Centennial  occasion,  it  was  obvious  that  all  sections  of  the 
original  Diocese  should  unite  in  the  celebration,  and  the  Diocese 
of  Easton  was,  therefore,  considered  on  the  same  footing  as  the 
Diocese  of  Maryland.  But  the  Clergy  of  the  former  were  re- 
garded as  special  guests,  and  as  such  received  the  care  and  atten- 
tion of  the  Committee. 

In  %-iew  of  the  very  special  occasion  it  was  deemed  proper  to 
extend  mvitations  to  all  living  clergymen,  wherever  located  in  the 
United  States,  who  had  at  any  time  been  connected  with  the  orig- 
inal Diocese  of  Maryland. 

Through  the  kindness  of  the  Rev.  Messrs.  "Wilson  and  Leakin 
and  of  the  Secretaiy  of  the  Convention,  Mr.  Packard,  the  names 
of  all  were  obtained:  and  in  every  section  of  the  land.  North, 
South.  East,  and  West,  through  States  and  Territories,  special 
invitations  sought  out  those  who  had  in  former  years  labored  in 
this  field.  Of  course  in  nearly  all  such  cases,  owing  to  great  dis- 
tance, this  was  more  a  matter  of  courtesy  than  of  practical  result. 
But  the  tone  of  the  replies  indicated  an  abiding  affection  for  the 
old  diocese,  and  for  their  associates  of  former  years.  There  were 
nearly  seven  hundred  invitations  issued.  Some  feAv  guests  from 
without  the  limits  of  the  State  were  in  attendance. 

The  Committee  was  anxious  that  all  the  invited  clergy  should 
be  properlj'  accommodated  durmg  their  stay.  Very  many  were 
hospitably  received  in  private  families  throughovit  the  city  ;  and 
those  not  so  provided  for,  or  who  preferred  more  freedom  of 
action,  were  very  comfortably  quartered  at  the  Carrollton  Hotel. 
The  proprietor,  Mr.  Coleman,  desiring  to  contribu.te  his  part,  as 
a  citizen,  generousl}'  placed  the  charge  at  a  moderate  figure,  and 
so  earned  the  thanks  of  the  Committee. 

The  Social  Gathering  on  Tuesday  evening  proved  an  exceed- 
ingly enjoyable  reunion,  gi\'ing  to  the  members  of  the  oldest 
diocese  the  opportunity  of  welcoming  back  again  for  the  hour 
their  brethren  of  the  younger  diocese  of  Easton,  as  well  as  those 
who  had  strayed  to  more  distant  pastures,  and  to  all  a  re^■ival  of 
old  recollections  in  individual  intercourse  as  well  as  in  the  public 
addresses. 

The  Hall  was  especially  suited  to  the  purpose,  which  required 
space  and  opportunity  to  combine  the  two  features  of  a  seated 
audience,  for  addresses,  and  at  the  same  time,  and  in  the  same 
room,  the  service  of  a  large  banquet. 


LIFE  or  liisimi'  iTNKM'.v.  :;:il 

To  ht'i^liten  t\w  intcicst  in  tlit-  •^athenn^f,  tlic  ]iortniits  (»f  all 
the  former  Bishops  ol'  the  Dioeese  were  nui^'-ed  upon  the  wiill. 
Bishops  Chi^^-ett.  Kemp.  Stone,  juul  AVliittin^'hiim,  Jin.l  those  of 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Beml.  one  of  tlie  early  Rectors  of  St.  Pauls,  Balti- 
more, and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wvatt.  for  fifty  years  Rector  at  a  later 
l)eriod,  also  that  of  the  late  Hu^h  DaveyEvans. 

Many  iuterestin<4-  relics  of  the  history  of  the  Diocese  were  luin;,^ 
up  or  phxced  in  cases  for  inspection. 

The  hall  and  the  tables  on  either  side  were  propei'ly  decorated 
with  standing-  plants  and  rare  Howers,  kindly  sent  hyMessrs.  W. 
H.  Perot.  "\V.  W.  Spence,  Mrs.  John  Glenn.  Mrs.  Sanniel  ^r.  Shoe- 
maker, and  Mrs.  John  S.  Gittings. 

The  guests  were  invited  for  seven  and  a  half  P.  :M..  when 
between  four  and  five  hundred  of  the  clergy  and  lay-delegates 
and  other  guests  were  assend)led. 

In  the  hollow  square  l)etween  the  decorated  tables,  seats  were 
ranged  for  the  first  part  of  the  programme. 

The  following  Programme  of  Exercises  had  been  issued  by  the 
Committee  and  distributed  about  the  Hall : 

Cextenary  of  the  Diocese  of  ^Marvl.^n'd. 

LEHM ANN'S  HALL. 
Tuesday  Evening,  '29th  May. 

Programme. 
nr.  REV.  BISHOP  PINKNEY, 

PRESIDING. 

ADDRESSES 

BY 

liT.   REV.  nrsiIOP  STEVENS, 
RT.  REV.  BISHOP  LYMAN, 
RT.  REV.  BISHOP  COXE. 
REV.   ('HAS.  H.  HALL.  D.   D. 
Hon.  JOHN  II.  B.  LATROliE. 
short  volunteer  addresses. 

Punctually  at  10  o'clock, 
COLLATION. 

This  order  Avas  not,  however,  adhered  to  with  exactness,  owing^ 
to  the  absence  of  the  Bishops  of  Pennsylvania  and  AVestern  New 
York. 

Brief  addresses  were  made  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  the  Bishops  of  Del 
aware  and  North  Carolina,  and  more  extended  discourses  In-  the 
Rev.  Charles  H.  Hall.  D.  D.,  and  the  Hon.  J.  H.  B.  Latrobe  (the 
Rt.  Rev.  Bishoj:)  Pinkney  presiding). 

Imj^romptu  addresses  were  made  by  the  Rev.  Geo.  A.  Leakin 
and  Joseph  H.  Bradley.  Esq.,  of  Washington. 

According  to  arrangement,  at  ten  o'clock,  the  adtb-esses  beiu},' 
ended,  the  seats  were  rapidly  removed,  and  ample  space  aftbrded 


332  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKXEY. 

for  social  intercourse.  The  tables  were  served  with  abundaut 
supplies  of  all  the  season  could  aflbrd.  and  after  two  hours  of 
hearty  good-fellowshi})  the  company  dispersed. 

LIST  OF  ARTICLES  ON  EXHIBITION. 

Bishop  Claggett's  Mitre.  [Made  for  him  by  the  daughter  of  Bishop  Seabiiry 
from  the  pattern  of  her  father's.] 

Bishop  Claggett's  Certificate  of  Consecration,  bearing  the  signatures  of 
Bishops  Provoost.  Seabury,  White,  and  Madison,  with  the  seal  of  Bishop 
Provoost  attached. 

Bishop  Claggett's  certificates  of  ordination  as  Deacon  and  Priest. 

His  Diploma  as  Bachelor  of  Arts,  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey. 

The  Certificate  of  ordination  to  the  diaconate  of  Samuel  Claggett.  father 
of  the  Bishop. 

Album,  containing  sundry  Manuscripts,  including  the  Consecration  Certifi- 
cates of  Bishops  Stone  and  Whittingham. 

Letter  of  Ordination  signed  by  Bishop  "White. 

Communion  Service  of  St.  John's  Parish.  Baltimore  and  Harford  Counties. 
[Very  old  and  made  of  pewter.] 

Two  volumes  of  original  letters  of  Bishop  Claggett  and  others. 

Manuscript  of  Bishop  Kemp's. 

Theological  Common  Place  Book  of  Bishop  Whittingham. 

Bishop  Claggett's  seal. 

Bishop  Whittingham's  seal. 

Seal  of  the  Diocese  of  Maryland — 1S26. 

Manuscript  Journals  of  the  Couventicms  of  1792  to  1807. 

Extract  from  the  Journals  of  the  Lower  Hcnise  of  Assembly,  (1685,;  sup- 
posed to  be  in  the  handwriting  of  J.  L.  Bozman. 

Hecord  Book  of  St.  James  Parish,  Anne  Aritudel  County — from  1694  to  1791, 
in  excellent  preservation. 

Record  Book  of  Prince  George  Parish,  Montgomery  County,  1726  to  1771. 

Sermon  by  Rev.  Thomas  Bacon — 1750. 

Discourses  and  other  Papers  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bray. 

R,ev.  Dr.  Bray's  "  Catechetical  Lectures." 

Prayer  Book  belonging  to  St.  John's  Parish.  Baltimore  and  Harford  Coun- 
ties— verv  old. 

Rev.  Dr.  Allen's  MSS.  History  of  St.  Thomas'  Parish.  Baltimore  County. 

Historical  Account  of  the  S.  P.  G.  F.  P.,  presented  to  Bishop  Whittingham 
by  Bishop  Selwyn."* 

Happily  there  was  nothing  to  come  before  this  Centenary  Con- 
yention  to  mar  the  joyousness  of  the  occasion  and  the  unanimity 
of  grateful  feelmgs.  All  agitating  questions  were,  if  not  settled, 
held  in  abeyance  or  buried  in  oblivion.  It  was  well  that  it  should 
be  so.  It  was  strongly  felt  in  all  hearts  that  GOD  had  been  lead- 
infj  His  Church  all  alono-  throu^-h  those  one  hunch-ed  years,  under 
many  trying  and  disciplinary  experiences,  indeed,  but  with  mani- 
fest and  increasing  evidences  of  the  Divine  blessing.  Her  bishoj^s 
in  their  succession  had  been  faithful  and  true  to  their  noble  work  ; 
her  clergy,  as  strong  in  holy  zeal  as  they  had  become  increased 
in  numbers ;  her  members  earnest  and  active  in  devotion  and  in 


♦See  "Commemoration,"  1883. 


LIFE    OF    lilSllOl'    l-INKNEV.  '.y.'/.i 

labors,  and  tluTf  had  been  on  tlic  wlmlc  mkIi  iiijiik<'<l  j>i«>",''i-css  in 
all  material  ami  s])iiitual  respects  thion^^liout  the  diocese  timt. 
there  was  o-roiiud  for  special  thanks<fiviii^s  and  i-ejoicin^-s.  und  fur 
most  hopeful  anticipations  for  the  future. 

Could  all  those  who  wei'e  thus  happily  and  joyfully  uiufiii;;  j,, 
these  commemorative  services  have  known  that  tlie  loving  and 
faithful  Bishoj)  then  presiding  in  the  council  of  the  Churdi  would 
in  little  more  than  one  brief  month  close  his  earthly  labors  and 
pass  to  his  reward  in  Paradise,  far  deeper  would  haVe  been  the 
interest,  and  a  very  solemn  and  subdued  feeling  would  have  l)eeu 
imparted  to  the  joy  of  the  celebration.  But  it  is  not  with  man 
to  know  how  GOD  worketh  out  his  purposes  of  love  and  grace  in 
His  Church. 

It  was  the  last  convention  over  which  Bisho])  1'inknkv  presided. 

It  was  the  fitting  close  of  an  Episcopate  which  had  been  marked 
throughout  with  an  amount  of  earnest  and  faithful  labors  i-arely 
exceeded  in  that  high  otiice. 

The  Bishop  opened  his  address  to  the  convention  with  woi-ds 
of  congratulation  on  the  happy  occasion,  and  thus  spoke  : 

"  I  meet  with  y<in  to-day,  in  the  t,'oo(l  Providence  of  GOD.  to  conini.-nio- 
mte  oiir  Centenary.  I  am  free  to  eonfess  tliat,  whih'  I  was  not  ins.'iisilih<  to 
the  poetic  beauty  of  the  idea.  I  did  not  at  first  catch  the  full  entlmsiasni  uf 
the  hoitr  as  some  of  my  more  Lfifted  brothers  have  (h)ne.  The  snblinif  belief, 
which  yon  share  equally  with  myself,  and  realize  as  fully,  that  the  Church 
is  eighteen  hundred  years  old,  chilled  somewhat  the  ar(h)r  of  my  iunipina- 
tiou  and  weakened  the  intensity  of  feeling  which  a  huijdredth  birthday  in  a 
great  and  glorious  country  like  this  could  not  fail  to  excite  iu  the  l)osoni  of 
those  who  felt  that  they  were  one  hundred  yeai's  old.  I  could  have  wislied 
to  stand  on  the  topmost  peak  of  the  next  liU!i(b-ed  years  to  see  how  far  we 
are  going  to  realize  the  granchi'ur  of  our  rich  heritage  of  faith,  the  i)ure. 
Catholic,  Protestant  faith,  that  was  bequeathed  to  us  by  our  fathers  of  the 
Anglican  Communion. 

"And  yet  I  was  not  without  the  welling  up  of  gratitude  for  the  marvels  of 
the  grace  wroi;ght  out  for  us  in  the  few  years  that  have  rolled  by  since  we 
found  a  cradle  iu  this  magnificent  western  home.  I  have,  therefore,  opened 
the  Convention  of  the  Diocese  with  an  historical,  centennial  discourse. 

■'  In  selecting  the  orator  and  historiogra])her  for  the  occasion.  I  was  guided 
iu  my  choice  by  the  conviction  that  it  was  meet  and  right  that  I  -^h.inld  .li.  ».■,.• 
a  Mary  lander,  one  to  the  manor  born."* 

Referring  to  the  historical  discourse  on  "The  Colonial  Chuich 
in  Maryland,"  delivered  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Lay,  D.  D..  of 
Easton,  at  the  service  held  on  the  preceding  day  in  St.  Paul's 
Church,  Bishop  Pinkney  used  the  following  gratifying  language : 

"  The  ante-revolutionary  period  was  consigned  to  my  brother  of  Eiuston. 
who  has  so  hai)pily  executed  the  task  we  assigned  him.  He  has  laid  us  umler 
a  heavy  and  lasting  ol)ligation  l)y  the  masterly  discourse  he  has  delivered,  a 
discourse  full  of  thrilling  facts  and  the  profoundest  i)hilosoi.hy.  This  jiost 
of  honor  was  justly  due  to  the  Eastern-shoremen  of  the  Church,  who  had 
borne  so  distingtiished  a  part  iu  laying  the  fouudatiou-stoues  of  the  mighty 

*Kev.  O.  Huttou,  D.  D. 


334  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

fabric  in  troublous  times,  and  who  have  added  to  the  lustre  of  their  original 
claim  to  a  grateful  remembrance  by  giving  us  in  the  brilliant  line  of  the  siic- 
cession  such  men  as  McKenney,  Mason,  and  Spence  :  Chambers,  the  man  of 
unrivalled  powers  in  debate,  Eecleston,  and  the  elder  Carmiehael.  who  to- 
day is  so  admirably  represented  by  his  nol>le  son,  the  upright  judge  and  able 
counsellor  of  the  Church — men  who  will  live  as  long  as  the  Chesapeake  rolls 
on  in  beauty,  a  silver  bond  i;niting  us  in  one." 

Cordial  greetings  were  extended  by  Bishop  Pixkxev  to  the 
Bishops  of  Delaware,  of  North  Carolina,  and  of  "Western  New 
York,  who  were  present  at  the  commemoration,  and  also  to  dis- 
tinguished presbyters  of  the  Church,  formerly  connected  with  the 
diocese,  who  had  come  to  unite  with  their  brethren  of  Maryland, 
in  the  centennial  services. 

The  Bishop's  detail  of  work  and  travel,  as  given  m  this  his  last 
convention  address,  presents  the  same  features  of  active  and  un- 
remitting toil  in  visitations  that  are  to  he  found  in  all  his  previous 
Episcopal  addresses.  He  was  always  at  work.  "When  the  body 
rested,  the  mind  was  busy.  He  allowed  himself  little  sleep :  al- 
ways abstemious  in  diet,  indiflerent  to  personal  ease  and  comfort, 
studious  to  think  and  do  for  others,  he  passed  the  last  year  of 
his  life  in  the  same  earnest  way  for  GOD,  the  Church,  and  duty 
with  which  he  had  commenced  his  ministry :  and  though  oft  m 
weariness  and  suffering  he  succumbed  not  till  the  Master  bade 
His  toil-worn  servant  enter  mto  the  rest  and  joy  of  the  redeemed. 

Throughout  his  visitations  during  this  convention  year  the 
Bishop  was  much  impressed  with  the  activity  of  the  clergy  and 
the  i)rogressive  and  healthy  condition  of  the  parishes  and  congre- 
gations. He  felt  the  Ijurden  of  the  weak  parishes  and  then-  illy- 
supported  rectors  heavy  upon  his  soul :  and  he  did  all  that  he 
could  for  theii-  relief.  In  all  his  visitations  through  the  diocese 
he  pressed  home  upon  the  people  the  importance  and  the  needs 
of  the  diocesan  mission  Avork,  and  made  most  virgent  and  success- 
ful api^eals  for  the  cause.  He  was  cordially  received  "VYherever 
he  went,  and  the  churches  were  always  crowded  with  interested 
congregations.  This  last  year  was,  jDerhaps.  the  most  peaceful 
year  of  his  Episcopate,  and  it  was  certainly  one  of  abounding 
labors.  Besides  his  regular  A'isitations,  ordinations  to  the  diaco- 
nate  and  tlie  priesthood,  and  large  number  of  licenses  to  lay-read- 
ers, he  had  consecrated  during  the  year  as  many  as  six  churches, 
nearly  all  of  them  churches  of  considerable  cost  and  great  archi- 
tectural beauty.  He  was  able  in  his  address  to  the  convention 
to  say : 

"  Never  has  more  work  been  undertaken  or  more  prayerfully  and  .steadily 
prosecuted  than  in  the  past  year.     But  we  have  more  work  in  hand." 

In  some  instances  there  were  incidents  of  visitation  peculiarly 
cheering  and  gratifying  to  him,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  account 
which  he   o-ives  of  a  visit  to  one  of  the  mission  works  originated 


LIFK    OF    lUSIK.i'    I'INKNKV.  335 

and  sustained  l)y  the  piiiish  of  the  Epi])hHiiy  in  Wusliiu^^fton  citv. 
The  Bishop  thus  refers  to  it  : 

"My  hfiirt  was  touc-lied.  a  few  weeks  ago,  as  it  lias  never  lii-.-ii  t«.n<-li.Ml 
before.  I  was  at  the  Epiphany  Mission,  and  there  I  met  titty  «ir  sixtv  men. 
from  18  to  70  years  of  age,  in  "the  search  of  social  cheer,  •iatln-red  ar"..un<l  it 
baud  of  ladies,  who  have  jjrovided  for  them  a  (jnict  home  on  Mundiiy  ni^dit 
of  each  week.  It  was  marvellous  to  see  how  much  of  true  heart-suushiue 
they  were  sheddini;  around  them.     It  was  a  deliLrhtful  evening:,  and  I  enjoyed 

it  ijreatly.     It   was  the  brightest   picture  of  the  brotherh I  of  the  t'hnrcli 

ou  which  I  have  lieen  called  to  look.  After  an  evening  spent  in  innocent 
amusement  in  which  I  participated.  I  thanked  (iOI)  for  the  privilege. 
Then  we  arose  to  rehearse  the  Creed,  of  which  many  had  never  heard  before 
they  crossed  the  threshold  of  this  asylum  :  not  a  voice  was  silent,  and  when 
we  knelt  to  say  the  Lord's  Prayer,  every  knee  was  bent,  and  "the  mighty 
words  were  ou  every  lip.  I  say  to  the  daughters  of  the  Epiphany.  Go  on", 
you  are  indeed  fullilling  woman's  missiou." 

The  concluding-  paragraphs  of  that  address  are  g^iven,  because 
so  expressive  of  his  long-tixed  and  ardent  devotion  to  the  sure 
doctrinal  teachings  of  the  Church  as  contained  in  her  standards 
of  faith  and  embodied  in  her  sacred  offices  and  in  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  Sacraments. 

"In  concluding  this  part  of  my  address,  I  would  implore  you  as  ycnir 
father  in  GOD,  under  all  the  solemnities  that  attach  to  my  holy  Iiffice.  in  the 
language  of  the  late  Bishop  of  Exeter.  Wil1)erforce.  "  to  see  to  it  that  your 
doctrines  be  those  of  the  Prayer  Book,  taken  in  its  simple  sense  and  straight- 
forward meaning,  parting  you  altogether  from  Puritans  by  the  doctrines  of 
the  Sacraments,  and  from  Kome  by  freedom  from  mediieval  conceptions. 
Earnestly,  lovingly,  wisely,  carry  out  this  system  in  your  lives,  and,  I  would 
add.  iu  your  teaching,  and  all  will  be  well." 

"Brave  words,  bravely  sjjoken  I  Timely  words  spoken  iu  season  I  The 
Prayer  Book  has  a  simple  sense,  and  a  straightforward  meaning  :  ailhere  to 
it  in  your  teaching  and  practice.  This  is  my  godly  counsel.  And  at  no 
time  could  it  be  breathed  in  your  ears  so  opi)ortunely.  as  in  this  centennial 
celebration,  while  we  are  thanking  GOD  for  the  wonderful  Providence  that 
guided  our  fathers  aright  when  they  laid  the  foundations  in  the  Apostolic 
order,  true  Catholic  custom,  and  Scrij^tural  conformity,  prote>ting  against 
Rome,  and  iu  nothing  sanctioning  change  from  the  catholicity  which  the 
Protestantism  of  this  Church  has  alone  conserved  to  us." 

With  these  timely  and  godly  counsels  Bishop  Pinknev  closed 
his  last  official  address  to  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese  of 
Maryland. 

On  Friday  evening,  the  1st  of  June,  after  the  usual  devotions 
and  the  benediction  by  the  Bishop,  the  Centenary  Convention  of 
1883  closed  its  session. 


336  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    FINKNEY. 


CHAPTER  XXXYI. 

His  Death.     1.SS3. 

The  duties  of  the  Bishop  in  presiding  at  the  Centenary  Cele 
In-atiou,  and  immediately  afterwards,  for  three  successive  days  at 
the  diocesan  convention,  were  somewhat  arduous,  and  were  ful- 
filled with  his  usual  promptness  and  efficiencj'.  There  were  no 
indications  at  the  close  of  the  convention  of  any  special  exhaus- 
tion. Apart  from  presiding  at  the  various  meetings  and  ser\dces 
much  devolved  upon  him  as  the  head  of  the  diocese,  in  imparting 
due  solemnity  and  interest  to  the  memorable  occasion  by  render- 
ing all  honored  attention  and  hospitalile  reception  to  the  visiting- 
bishops,  clergy,  and  laity  from  other  dioceses.  All  felt  the  haj^py 
influence  of  his  cordial  greetings  as  he  welcomed  them  in  his 
genial  and  courteous  manner. 

Previous  to  the  assembly  of  the  convention  the  Bishop  had 
made,  as  usual,  his  appointments  for  the  summer  \'isitations  up 
to  the  time  in  August  when  he  expected  to  take  his  brief  rest  at 
the  White  Sulphur  Springs  as  the  guest  of  Mr.  Corcoran. 

The  labors  of  the  month  following  show  no  abatement  in  his 
wonted  activity.  They  are  up  to  the  full  measure  of  Avork  for  the 
same  time  at  any  preceding  period  of  his  Episcopate.  From  the 
brief  records  of  the  month  left  by  the  Bishop,  it  appears  that, 
without  a  single  day's  intermission  for  rest,  he  started  on  the  2d 
of  June  for  his  summer  visitations.  He  fulfilled  two  appoint- 
ments in  Baltimore  county,  held  two  ordinations  successively  in 
Baltimore  city,  and  participated  in  mission  services  in  connection 
with  them  ;  attended  the  reinterment  of  the  remains  of  John 
Howard  Payne  at  Oak  Hill  Cemetery,  Georgetown ;  held  several 
visitations  in  Prince  George  county  ;  presided  at  the  commence- 
ment exercises  of  the  Pinkney  Institute,  in  Washington  city,  and 
at  those  of  the  Hannah  More  Academy,  near  Reisterstown  ;  met 
the  convocation  of  Washington  and  confirmed  the  election  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Meyer  Lewin  as  Dean  ;  visited  Anne  Ai-undel  county  and 
Annapolis  city  for  Episcopal  services  :  made  on  the  closing  days 
of  the  month  visits  to  Mt.  Washington,  Baltimore  county,  to  Elk 
Ridge,  and  to  Ellicott  City. 

The  Bishop's  reference,  m  the  above  summary  of  his  Episco])al 
work  during  the  month  of  June,  to  the  removal  and  reinterment 
of  the  remains  of  John  Howard  Payne,  author  of  "  Home,  Sweet 
Home,''  makes  it  proper  that  the  narrative  of  the  circumstances 
should  have  full  place  and  recognition  in  this  biography.     The 


LIFE    OF    mSHOl'    riNKNKV.  '.'/.il 

cii'cumstances  were  iutimately  identified  witli  Mr.  Corconm'H 
g-euerosity  and  with  the  last  official  act  of  sejjiilturc  peifonned  l>y 
Bishop  PiNKNEY  only  a  few  weeks  before  his  own  Inirial  in  the 
same  cemetery  of  Oak  Hill. 

The  description  followin<^-  is  in  jiart  taken  fioni  puhlications  of 
the  press  in  "Washington  city  on  June  '.),  1.S83 : 

One  day  in  the  autumn  of  1S(S2,  as  ]\Ir.  Corcoran  was  slowly 
riding  by  the  Ebl)itt  House,  his  ear  was  greeted  Ijy  tlie  music  of 
^'  Home,  Sweet  Home,"  which  the  Marine  Band  was  playing  in 
honor  of  Engineer  Melville,*  of  the  ill-fated  Ai-ctic  steamer 
J'eaiuiette,  who  had  just  reached  Washington,  and  was  a  guest  of 
the  house  before  ^\hich  thej'  were  stationed.  As  !Mr.  Corcoran 
listened  to  the  plaintive  air,  which  never  fails  to  touch  responsive 
chords  in  the  breasts  of  all  who  hear  it,  his  heart  was  moved  by 
tender  memories  of  the  poet  whose  words  have  made  it  immortal, 
and  his  acquaintance  with  whom  covered  a  period  of  neaily  fifty 
years,  and  he  that  moment  resolved  that  the  project  he  had  formed 
years  before  concerning  the  removal  of  ]Mr.  Payne's  remains  to 
this  country  should  at  once  be  carried  into  eilect.  ^Ir.  Payne,  as 
consul  of  the  United  States,  had  died  at  Tunis  in  1852.  A  marble 
slab,  with  appropriate  memorial  record,  had  been  placed  over  his 
grave  by  a  grateful  country,  on  which,  besides  the  record  of  his 
birth  and  death,  and  consulate,  Avere  carved  these  beautiful  lines 
following : 

'  •  Sure  when  thy  gentle  spirit  fled 

To  reahns  beyond  the  azure  dome. 
With  arms  outstretched,  GOD'S  angel  said. 
Welcome  to  Heaven's  '  Home,  Sweet  Home.'  " 

With  characteristic  promptness,  Mi'.  Corcoran  obtained  the 
consent  of  the  only  surving  member  of  the  ifamily ;  and.  the  pre- 
liminary negotiations  through  the  Secretary  of  State  having  been 
effected,  the  remains  of  the  poet  were  disinterred  and  taken  to 
the  small  and  beautiful  Protestant  chapel  at  Tunis  and  ])laced 
near  the  chancel  window,  which  bears  the  inscription,  "  To  the 
memory  of  John  Howard  Payne,  author  of  •  Home,  Sweet 
Home.' "'  Appropriate  services  were  then  held,  and  the  l)0(ly  in 
its  encasement  consigned  ''to  the  United  States  Consul  at  INIar- 
seilles,  France." 

The  remains  of  the  poet,  upon  their  arrival  in  ^^  ashuigton.  in 
March,  were  placed  in  the  chapel  of  the  Oak  Hill  Cemetery.  The 
burial  and  the  unveiling  of  the  monument  provided  by  ^Ir.  Corco- 
ran to  mark  his  grave  were  delayed  in  order  that  they  might  take 
place  on  the  9th  of  June,  the  anniversary  of  Paj-ue's  bu-th.  On 
the  night  before  the  burial  the  coffin  was  brought  from  Oak  Hill 
to  the  Corcoran  Art  Gallery  and  placed  under  a  guard  until  the 
afternoon  of  the  9th,  when,  at  i  o'clock,  the  remains  were  placed  in 
a  hearse  provided  for  the  occasion. 

♦Now  Engiueer-in-Chief.  U.  S.  Navy. 


338  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY, 

By  Mr.  Corcoran's  special  request  Bishop  Pixkxey  was  invited 
to  be  present  and  conduct  the  burial  services,  in  which  he  was 
assisted  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  W.  A.  Leonard,  of  St.  John's  Church. 

Preceded  by  a  military  procession,  soldiers  of  the  regular  and 
volunteer  ser%'ice  with  reversed  arms,  and  bands  playing  funeral 
marches,  and  followed  by  carriages  containing  the  President  of 
the  United  States,  many  members  of  his  Cabinet,  representatives 
of  the  Diplomatic  Corps,  the  Supreme  Courts  of  the  United  States 
and  of  the  District,  Mr.  Corcoran.  Bishop  Pixkxey,  Dr.  Leonard, 
and  many  speciallv  invited  friends,  the  procession  marched  to  the 
Oak  Hill  Cemeteiy. 

The  spot  selected  for  the  grave  and  monument  was  a  charming 
one,  in  a  grove  of  fine  old  trees  whose  branches  interlaced  over- 
head and  formed  a  canopy  that  was  protection  from  both  sun 
and  rain. 

On  the  platform  which  faced  the  open  square  and  was  deco- 
rated with  the  British  and  American  flags  and  a  pah-  of  shields 
with  Tunisian  emblems,  were  seated  the  President.  ^Lr.  Corcoran 
at  his  left  and  Bishop  Pixkxey  and  the  Eev.  Dr.  Leonard,  of  St. 
John's  Church,  on  his  right.  At  the  left  of  this  platform  was 
another  crowded  with  distinguished  persons  from  the  city,  and 
on  the  right  another  platform  for  the  Philharmonic  Society  and 
the  Marine  Band.  Opposite  the  President's  stand  was  a  dense 
throng  bounding  the  limits  of  the  square,  and  behind  them  down 
on  the  limits  of  the  slope  a  dense  crowd  that  could  not  be  pro- 
vided with  seats.  Perfect  and  reverent  order  was  observed. 
Instrumental  music  preceded  the  religious  services,  which  were 
conducted  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Pixkxey  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Leon- 
ard. The  portions  of  Holy  Scripture  read  were  :  Genesis  23  :  3-11 
and  Genesis  50 :  24-26.  and  I  Corinthians  15 :  50-53.  A  short  poem 
was  recited  by  its  author,  Mr.  Robert  S.  Chilson ;  and  the  monu- 
ment Avas  uncovered,  revealing  a  graceful  pedestal  surmounted  by 
a  bust  of  the  poet.  •■  Home,  Sweet  Home  "  was  sung  and  an  ora- 
tion was  dehvered  by  Mr.  Leigh  Rol>insou.  Bishop  Pixkxey  read 
the  recommittal  and  Rev.  Dr.  Leonard  sprinkled  dust  upon  the 
coffin-lid.  The  '•  Hallelujah  Chorus  "  was  sung,  the  coffin  was 
lowered  into  the  grave  and  rolled  into  a  cell  Ijeneath  the  monu- 
ment. The  Bishop  pronounced  the  benediction,  and,  while  the 
Marine  Band  played  a  familiar  hymn,  the  great  audience  slowly 
moved  out  of  the  cemetery  gates. 

In  less  than  thirty  days  after  these  imposing  solemnities  of  the 
reinterment  of  the  remains  of  the  author  of  "  Home,  Sweet 
Home."  the  body  of  the  Bishop  then  officiating  was  borne  to  the 
same  Oak  Hill  Cemetery  for  burial — not,  indeed,  with  the  same 
civic  honors,  but  attended  by  a  multitude,  scarcely  less  numerous, 
of  sorrowing  friends,  clergy,  and  laity,  grieving  over  the  loss  of 
one  universally  revered  and  tenderly  beloved  as  a  Bishoj)  in  the 
Church  of  GOD. 


Liri;    OF    IMsilol'    I'INKNKV.  :{;{<) 

Bishop  PiNKNEY  liiul  fxpcrtfd  to  atlciid.  as  iisiuil.  tin-  ciin 
meiu-eiuent  exercises  of  St.  Joliiis  C'ollef^re.  Aiiimi»olis.  lirld  al.imt 
the  1st  of  July.  He  was  a  devoted  son  of  his  Ahuti  Mtit>  i\  and, 
bein^--  also  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Visitors  and  Governors,  he 
never  failed,  whenever  it  was  practical )le  for  him  to  attend,  to  be 
present  at  the  commencements  and  the  meetinjifs  of  the  trustees. 
His  Episcopal  en^ao-emeuts  for  June  and  July  of  this  yj-ai-  j.re 
vented  his  going- :  but  in  his  tlioughtfulncss  he  was  mindful  to 
write  beforehand  to  two  young-  friends  of  the  gi-aihiating  class 
the  following-  letter,  which  was  proba])ly  the  last  letter  of  aiiv 
length  that  he  wrote,  for  it  is  dated  the  'iHth  of  June,  ami  was 
followed  on  the  "icSth  with  a  brief  note  explaining  his  absence  from 
the  college  commencement,  which  was  only  a  few  days  l)cf(>re  his 
lamented  decease : 

"June  25.  '83. 
"  Mr.  Daniel  Randall  axi>  Mr.  Mckkay  :   ^ly  friends,  may  I  join  y<>u 

ti)i;etlier  in  my  <,'reetings  on  fonimonffincnt  diiy.  who  liavc  Ihmmi  so  <-lost'lv, 
and  I  trust  tenderly,  drawn  to  eaeh  other  in  the  ehiss-room  'f  My  idassmates 
and  I  never  knew  a  divided  heart.  Three  of  us  are  luider  ground  and  tlirec 
al)ove  it ;  the  sweetest  memories  bind  us  to  the  sh'epin^^  ones,  and  one  licart 
is  knitting  the  other  three  more  (doselyas  we  dra\v  near  tlie  river's  hrink. 

"  You  have  each  of  you  an  inheritance  of  honor  to  j^uard  and  defend.  N<> 
truer  man  ever  breathed  than  Ah'Xander  Randall,  and  no  fairer  name  is 
chronicled  on  the  muster-roll  of  Annapolis  than  that  of  Murray.  You  are. 
I  believe,  both  of  you  destined  to  the  law.  It  is  a  noble  profession  if  followed 
nobly.  It  has  no  meretricious  honors  to  ofl'er  to  any.  Hard  stu<ly,  intense 
application  are  essential  to  success.  No  ^ifts  will  (•omi)ensate  for  lack  of 
these.  Your  college  record  is  proof  that  you  have  these  gifts,  and  I  iiresunu* 
that  that  same  record  is  proof  that  you  are  not  without  zeal  and  assiduity  in 
the  use  of  them.  Start  right,  aim  to  be  learned  lawyers.  Keep  u])  your 
knowledge  of  the  classics.  Ciiltivate  the  art  of  public  speaking.  Some  will 
tell  you  that  this  is  not  the  age  for  oratory:  that  it  is  too  ])ractical  and  alto- 
gether too  metallic  for  so  divine  a  gift.  But  in  this  they  are  mistaken. 
Argument  and  eloquence  are  never  without  power.  Only  see  to  it  that 
your  learning  in  the  law-  is  profound,  and  you  will  lind  courts  and  juries  ever 
ready  to  hang  on  the  tuneful  tongue.  Aim  to  be  good  that  you  may  be  truly 
great.  But  why  detain  you  in  such  an  hour,  in  the  moment  when  the  tuue- 
ful  tongue  of  your  president  is  still  lingering  in  your  ear  'f 

"  Though  far  from  well,  I  shidl  (D.  V.)  be  a  witness  of  your  closing  hours 
at  college  and  bid  you  a  Godspeed  on  your  career  in  life.  For  both  of  you 
I  entertain  a  tender  regard,  for  you  are  sons  of  honored  sires,  warm  personal 
friends  of  mine  :  the  Randalls,  Murrays,  and  Carmichaelstmght  tostimulivte 
ycm  to  mighty  efforts  in  ycmr  endeavor  to  master  the  law.  and  surely  no  higher 
stimulus  could  be  desired  to  awaken  lofty  asi)ir!ttionsin  all  that  is  noble  and 
good  in  thought  and  feeling  than  those  honored  names  afford. 

"Affectionatelv, 

••W.  riXKNKY. 

"  N.  B. — Excuse  me  if  I  have  ventured  too  far  in  tendering  you  these  words 
of  counsel,  and  take  the  wise  counsel  of  your  learned  professors  when  you 
cross  the  threshold  of  the  law  school. 

"Finally,  learn  how  to  writeintelligilily,  in  a  dear,  liold  iiand.  It  will  save 
vou  and  others  much  annovance.  as  this  letter  will  abundantlv  i)rove. 

••\V.   P." 


340  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

The  Bishop  had  arranged  with  the  Rev.  Adolphus  T.  Pindell, 
the  rector,  to  make  a  visitation  to  Sherwood  Parish  Church,  at 
Cockeysville,  for  the  consecration  of  the  church,  on  Thursday,  the 
5th  of  July,  and,  in  order  to  spend  the  4th  in  a  quiet  and  restful 
way  at  the  rectory,  he  appointed  to  go  to  Cockeys^Tlle  by  a  mid- 
day train  from  "Washington  on  Tuesday,  the  3d.  He  had  written 
to  Mr.  Pindell  a  few  days  before,  asking  him  to  appoint  a  sj)ecial 
service  for  the  evening  of  that  day,  and  saying  that  he  would 
preach  the  sermon.  The  Bishop  had  requested  his  intimate 
friend,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Meyer  Lewin,  to  accomi^any  him  on  this  visi- 
tation and  preach  the  consecration  sermon.  It  was,  as  the  result 
proved,  a  most  happy  circumstance  that  this  very  dear  friend  was 
with  the  Bishop  on  the  occasion.  The  Bishop  and  Dr.  Lewui 
arrived  in  the  afternoon  of  the  3d,  and  in  the  evening  the  Bishop 
took  part  in  the  services  and  preached  the  sermon. 

He  preached  with  even  more  than  his  usual  force  and  unction. 
His  subject  and  the  way  in  which  he  treated  it  were  remarkable. 
How  singularly  touching  and  beautiful  that  his  thoughts  and  his 
preached  words  should  be  upon  the  blessedness  and  triumphs  of 
the  saints.  He  could  not  know  that  he  was  jn'eaching  his  last 
sei'mon  and  passing  his  last  evening  upon  earth,  and  that  when 
the  next  morning  had  dawned  and  the  sun  had  risen,  his  soul 
would  enter  into  the  sjDirit  world ;  and  yet  he  spoke  with  the 
same  holy  fervor  and  glowing  anticijDations  as  if  that  fact  had 
been  revealed  to  him.  This  last  sermon  was  j^ublished  soon  after 
his  decease.  His  text  and  some  paragraphs  from  the  discourse 
are  here  given : 

But  ye  are  come  uuto  Mouut  Siou,  and  lanto  the  city  of  the  living  GOD,  the  heavenly 
Jerusalem,  and  to  an  innumerable  company  of  angels. 

To  the  general  assembly  and  church  of  the  tirst-born,  which  are  \\Tltten  in  heaven,  and 
to  GOD  the  Judge  of  all,  and  to  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect. 

And  to  JESUS  the  Mediator  of  the  new  covenant,  and  to  the  blood  of  sprinkling,  that 
speaketh  better  things  than  that  of  Ahel.— Hebrews  xii  :  22,  23,  24. 

The  Chiu-cli  would  have  us  pause  in  the  whirl  of  business  that  is  sweep- 
ing over  us  :  and  in  the  calm  and  quiet  hours  that  are  given  for  meditation 
and  musing  on  heavenly  things,  she  would  bring  before  us  the  unnumbered 
hosts  whose  godly  doings  are  registered  on  high,  however  they  may  be  with- 
out chronicle  on  earth  :  so  that,  sitting  in  the  light  of  their  burning  example. 
Ave  may  be  stimulated  to  like  heroic  deeds.  It  is  not  only  the  Augustines, 
Chrysostoms.  the  Ambrose  and  Ignatius  and  Polycarj^s,  men  of  whom  the 
world  was  not  worthy,  mighty  men,  who  led  on  the  armies  of  the  LOKD 
against  error  and  falsehood,  and  who  embalmed  their  virtues  in  an  eloqiience 
and  enriched  them  with  a  learning  that  but  few  may  hope  to  equal — it  was 
not  these  alone  whom  she  would  have  us  hold  in  sweetest  memory.  Oh,  no  I 
it  is  the  goodly  company  of  saints,  the  little  children  of  the  Kingdom,  who 
prayed  and  watched  and  worked  by  the  holy  altars,  and  who  shed  over  heart 
and  hearthstone  the  fragrance  of  a  true-hearted  sympathy,  and  gave  an  im- 
pulse to  the  ark  as  they  made  heaven's  arches  ring  with  gladness — the  poor 
on  beds  of  straw  and  in  tattered  garments  as  well  as  the  rich,  who  all  the 
while  recognized  that  they  were  GOD'S  trustees  for  the  poor — the  true 
daughters  of  sorrow,  whose  smile  of  love  lit  vip  the  darkened  abodes  of  mis- 
ery and  shame,  within  the  narrow  circumference  of  whose  retired  life  no 


LIFE    OF    UISHOP    I'lNKNEV.  341 

eye  but  GOD'S  eye  peuetrated,  aucl  yet  whose  numldinj;  power  for  j^ood  wiw 
the  salt  of  life  and  the  liftht  of  the  world-  wlmsf  j>ray«'rs  wert-  Uk-  Ntr<)in» 
cries  and  tears  of  faith,  and  whose  un<«)nii)lainiii^'  i)atifnr<'  and  K'"lly  •■""- 
stancy  were  woven  aronnd  the  very  pillars  that  sustain  tin-  universt-  wlicse 
names  are  written  in  the  Lamb's  book  of  life,  the  spirits  of  jiist  men  nia<l»< 
perfect.  These  are  they  whom  the  Church  would  liold  uj)  before  us.  and 
whom  Saint  Paul  accounted  as  the  ^reat  cloud  of  witnesses  who  hold  us  iti 
full  survey  I  And  now  that  we  are  standini,'  in  the  liKht  they  diffust-d  over 
earth,  she  would  have  us  <,dorify  GOD  in  them,  and  ask  for  t,'ract' toso  follow  in 
their  footstcjjs  that  we  too  niii^ht  come  to  the  same  unspeakable  jovs  whicli 
GOD  hath  prepared  for  those  who  love  Him.  No  life  for  GOD  on  this  earth 
was  ever  wasted.  Like  the  motion  of  the  lips  which  philoso]ihiTs  tell  us 
gives  a  perpetual  motion  to  the  current  of  sound  that  is  destined  to  live  on 
until  time  shall  be  no  more,  the  life  of  the  most  obscure  of  the  saints  of 
GOD — as  men  count  obscurity — will  live  on  in  the  good  that  is  being  done 
until  the  sheaves  are  all  gathered  in  and  the  reapers  are  cmwned  in  glory. 

There  is  one  thought  that  gives  to  this  graphic  picture  a  more  than  common 
pathos,  and  that  is.  that  from  thetiresides  where  we  weave  golden  links  there 
are  going  forth  with  each  setting  and  rising  sun  loved  ones  to  swi-U  tlie 
noble  army  of  the  redeemed  in  glory.  To-day  we  may  walk  in  the  funeral 
train  which  is  bearing  to  the  last  resting-place  the  body  of  one  whom  w« 
loved  more  than  life:  we  may  return  to  the  homestead  nevermore  to  be 
greeted  by  the  welcome  smile,  and  never  more  to  catch  the  music  tones  that 
made  life  so  attractive  and  joyous  to  us  ;  we  may  walk  the  dear  oU\  ances- 
tral hall  and  find  it  deserted,  and  sigh  to  think  that  we  are  left  all  alone  out 
on  the  great  highway  of  life,  or  with  one  soul  less  to  l)eat  in  unison  with 
ours :  we  may  sit  in  the  sweet  eventime  and  meditate  on  the  sad  change 
that  has  come  over  the  spirit  of  our  dream.  The  pictures  on  the  wall  may 
be  all  that  is  left  to  us  to  bring  back  the  image  most  dear  to  the  heart.  The 
love-tokens  we  bear  about  our  persons  may  be  all  that  is  left  to  whisper  of 
the  joys  that  have  flown  from  us. 

But,  oh  I  beloved,  if  the  chords  which  death  severs  were  linked  to  JESUS 
— if  those  we  mourn  as  lo.^^  to  us  now  were  knit  together  %vith  us  in  the  one 
communion  of  fellowship  of  His  body,  they  are  this  day  and  hour  among 
the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect:  and  the  mighty  impulses  they  gave 
to  the  ark  of  the  LORD,  from  the  paths  of  (pxietude  they  trod,  shall  live 
after  them.  They  being  dead,  yet  speak.  They  are  ours  still,  though  they 
be  removed  to  another  department  of  the  Master's  house — the  house  of 
many  mansions.  Eternity  ])erpetuates  the  life  they  spent  on  earth.  Be  it 
ours' to  follow  them  in  the  meekness  of  faith  and  the  constancy  of  hive  a.s 
they  followed  JESUS  :  Then,  indeed,  shall  we  taste  of  the  bliss  and  grand- 
eur of  the  destiny  they  enjoy  when  we  come  to  the  Mount  Zion,  the  New 
Jerusalem,  Jerusalem  the  Golden. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  sem-ice  the  Bishop  returaed  w  itli  his 
host  and  friends  to  the  rectory  near  the  chiirch.  There,  after  an 
evening  of  cheerful  converse,  euhvened  and  sweetened  as  evenings 
spent  with  him  always  were  by  his  genial  charm  of  manner  and 
rare  conversational  powers,  he  retired  to  his  room  adjohiing  that 
of  Dr.  Lewin  at  a  comparatively  early  hour. 

Nothing  occurred  during  the  night  to  indicate  that  his  rest  was 
other  than  peaceful  and  refreshing  ;  but  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing Dr.  Lewin's  attention  was  aroused  by  sounds  of  sighing, 
about  which  there  must  have  been  something  of  that  indescriba- 
ble qualitv  which  assures  us  that  they  spring  from  physical 
distress.    'He  hastened  to  the  Bishop's  bedside,  where  be  fouud 


342  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

liim  sitting.  In  reply  to  bis  inquiries,  the  Bishop  asked  him  to 
feel  his  pulse :  finclino-  this  very  feeble  he  persuaded  the  Bishop 
to  lie  down  again,  and  allo\y  him  to  summon  Mr.  Pindell  to  bring- 
some  restorative.  After  doing  so,  Dr.  Lewin  went  to  his  own 
room  for  a  hasty  toilet,  but  within  a  minute  hearing  the  sound  of 
a  fall,  he  was,  by  hurrying,  just  in  time  to  receive  and  support 
the  head  of  the  Bishop,  who  had  attempted  to  rise  and  fallen  in 
the  attemjit.  Here  Mr.  Pindell  found  him.  Restoratives  were 
actively  used  and  physicians  summoned,  but  all  was  soon  over — 
the  spu'it  of  the  Bishop  had  departed.  The  physicians,  Doctors 
Hawkins  and  Benson,  upon  then-  arrival  could  only  confirm  the 
fact  of  death,  assigning  congestion  of  the  heart  as  the  immediate 
cause.  Rev.  Dr.  Lewin  and  Rev.  Mr.  Pindell  reverently  placed 
the  body  in  position  for  the  undertaker,  who  was  immediately 
summoned.  Prompt  telegrams  were  sent  to  the  relatives  of  the 
deceased  Bishop,  to  the  Standing  Committee  of  the  diocese,  and 
to  such  of  the  clergy  and  laity  as  could  assist  in  the  arrangements 
for  the  removal  of  the  remains  to  Washington  city.  On  the 
evening  of  the  day  of  his  death  Mr.  Corcoran  sent  an  undertaker 
from  Washington  with  express  orders  to  remove  the  remains  at 
once,  but  this  could  not  be  done.  At  the  early  hour  of  six  o'clock 
on  Friday  morning  the  remains,  attended  by  the  Rev.  Drs.  Lewin 
and  Purcell  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pindell,  were  placed  in  a  special 
car  provided  for  the  purpose  by  Mr.  Geo.  C.  Wilkins,  Baltimore 
agent  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad.  The  train  arrived  in  Balti- 
more at  6.40,  and  w^as  there  met  by  a  large  number  of  the  clergy 
and  some  of  the  laity.  Upon  reaching  "NVashington  city,  about  8 
o'clock,  the  remains  were  conveyed  to  the  Chvu'ch  of  the  Ascen- 
sion. There  were  in  waiting  at  the  station  a  number  of  the  vestry 
and  meml)ers  of  the  Church  of  the  Ascension,  with  which  the 
Bishop  had  l^een  so  long  connected  as  the  rector.  There  were 
l)resent  the  Rev.  Dr.  Elliott,  the  Associate  Rector  of  the  Church  ; 
Hon.  "\V.  AV.  Corcoran,  Colonel  Casey.  Dr.  Lansdale,  N.  "\V. 
Burchell.  William  Burgess,  Major  Davidson,  Charles  Hill,  H. 
W.  Garnett,  and  William  Shuster,  the  eight  last  named  acting  as 
bearers.  The  Rev.  A.  R.  Stuart,  and  Rev.  E.  H.  Ingle,  the 
assistant  minister,  were  also  present.  A  jH'ocession  was  at  once 
formed  and  carriages  Avere  (h-iven  to  the  Ascension  Church.  The 
casket  was  placed  in  front  of  the  chancel  rail  at  the  head  of  the 
middle  aisle,  on  a  dais  covered  with  purj^le  cloth.  A  large  cross 
of  white  ilowers  was  presented  by  the  Ladies'  Association  of  the 
church.  The  chancel,  altar,  and  the  organ-gallery  were  deeply 
draped  in  black  and  j)urple. 

The  l)ody  of  the  Bishoj)  was  vested  with  his  Episcopal  robes.* 

*  It  is  stated  as  an  interesting  incident,  that  wlieii  the  casket  was  opened 
to  adjust  the  robes,  which  had  become  somewhat  disarranged  by  the  removal 
from  Cockeysvilh'  to  Washington,  tlu're  fell  from  the  jjocket  of  the  robe  a 
handkercliii'f  and  a  programme  of  the  Payne  obsequies.     This  programme 


1 


LIFE    OF    I5I8H()1>    I'lNKNKY.  ',]4'A 

The  casket  was  plain  aud  sul)stantial,  covered  with  ridi  Muck 
cloth,  with  a  silver  cruciform  plate  beariu«,'  the  iiiKcription  : 

"  Rt.  Rev.  William  Pinknky.  1).  1).,  LL.  D..  Hisht.i)  of  Marylaiul,  <li«'«l 
July  4,  1883,  aged  73  years,  iu  the  thirteenth  year  of  his  E|MS(o]iat<-." 

His  countenance  was  calm  and  untroubled,  and  wonderfully 
well  preserved. 

All  necessary  arrangements  for  tlic  fuiici-al  were  madr  liv  tlic 
Rev.  Dr.  Elliott,  who  had  succeeded  to  tlie  sole  i-cctDrsliip.  l»'v  tlu' 
Rev.  Dr.  Meyer  Lewin,  president  of  the  Standing  Connuittci'.  and 
by  Mr.  C.  C.  Duncanson,  for  the  vestry  of  his  parish. 

Six  o'clock  in  the  evening  was  apjiointed  as  tlie  hour  for  the 
funeral  solemnities  to  be  held  in  the  Church  of  tlie  Ascension. 

Under  the  gloom  of  this  sudden  decease  of  Bishop  Pinknev  a 
feeling  of  deep  sympathy  and  sorrow  pervaded  the  whoh'  Diocese 
of  Maryland,  and  was  most  painfully  exi)erienced  in  the  city  of 
Washington,  where  for  so  many  years  he  had  ministered  in  his 
pastoral  offices,  and  where  to  the  close  of  his  life  he  had  contiiuicd 
to  go  in  and  out  among  its  j^eople  as  a  chief  pastor  in  the  Church 
of  GOD.  So  profoundly  had  he  impressed  his  cliara<-ter  upon 
the  minds  and  hearts  of  the  people  of  "Washington,  and  uj)on  all 
who  were  privileged  to  know  him,  that  there  was  one  united  feel- 
ing of  sympathy  and  sorrow  upon  his  death.  By  the  purity  and 
sanctity  of  his  life,  and  by  his  patient,  self -sacriticing.  and  devoted 
labors  in  the  ministry  and  in  the  Episcopate,  he  had  greatly 
endeared  himself  to  the  Church  he  so  faithfully  served.  Suddenly 
called  to  his  rest  he  had  dejiarted  this  life  iu  the  midst  of  his  holy 
labors,  in  the  fulness  of  spiritual  peace,  and  in  joyful  antici})atiou 
of  the  blessedness  of  the  life  immortal. 

We  cannot  choose  the  moment,  the  place,  and  the  suri-oundings 
of  our  departure  hence.  No  death  is  sudden  when  it  finds  the 
watching  servant  of  the  LORD  waiting  for  the  ^Master's  sum- 
mons ;  no  death  is  untimeh^  when  it  comes  in  the  fulness  of 
years  of  holy  service  for  CHRIST  and  His  Church  :  and  no  death 
can  be  desolate  when  the  spirit  of  the  LORD  is  near  to  bear  up 
and  cheer  the  departing  soul  to  its  promised  and  l)lessed  rest. 
Bishop  PiNKNEY  died,  as  doubtless  he  would  have  preferred  to 
die,  not  in  the  decay  of  mental  and  physical  jiowers,  and  under 
2)rolonged  suffering  unfitting  him  for  active  duty.  l)ut  rather 
while  actually  engaged  in  those  sacred  offices  which,  for  more 
than  forty  years  in  the  priesthood,  and  thirteen  in  the  Episcopate, 
he  had  earnestly  sought  to  fill  in  all  ministering  love  and  duty ; 
his  mind  as  clear  and  strong  at  seventy  three  as  it  had  ever  been, 
his  heart  as  warm  and  expansive  in  Christian  sympathy  as  in  the 
freshness  of  youth,  and  his  bodily  vigor,  though  aliated.  yet  not 
seriously  impaired. 

the  Bishop  doubtless  had  forgotteii  to  remove,  aud  there  it  had  remained 
till  loving  hands  tenderly  took  it  after  death  had  stricken  himself  with  it« 
cold  embrace. 


344  LIFE   OF   BISHOP    PINKNEY. 


CHAPTER    XXXYII. 

The  Funeeal  Solemnities. 

Outside  of  Bishop  Pinkney's  own  immediate  family  there  was 
no  one  who  more  deiDlored  his  sudden  decease  than  the  venerable 
Mr.  Corcoran.  As  soon  as  the  sad  intelHgence  of  the  death 
reached  Washington,  Mr.  Corcoran,  as  has  been  stated,  sent  an 
undertaker  to  Cockeysville  to  provide  for  the  removal  of  the 
remains  to  Washington  city.  Moved  by  the  tender  love  Avhich 
he  bore  to  the  person  of  the  departed  Bishoj^,  and  desiring,  in  the 
outflow  of  his  generous  heart,  to  express  his  devotion  to  the 
memory  of  one  whom  he  so  revered  and  honored,  he  proposed, 
and  asked  the  privilege,  to  meet  all  expenses  for  the  Bishops 
burial  in  the  beautiful  grounds  of  the  Oak  Hill  Cemetery,  at 
Georgetown.  So  gracious  and  noble  a  j^roposal  could  not  but 
receive  grateful  accej^tance  by  the  family  of  the  deceased  Bishop. 
Mr.  Corcoran  also  asked  permission  from  the  family  to  remove 
from  the  graveyard,  adjoining  St.  Matthew's  Church,  in  Prince 
George  county,  the  remains  of  the  Bishop's  deceased  wife  to  be 
l^laced  beside  those  of  the  Bishop. 

The  hour  of  six  o'clock  p.  m.  was  appointed  for  the  funeral 
services  that  were  to  be  held  m  the  Church  of  the  Ascension. 
AiTangements  were  made  for  the  separate  watches  that  were  to 
guard  the  body  from  twelve  o'clock  until  four  p.  m.,  while  it  was 
lying  in  state.  At  noon  the  doors  of  the  church  were  opened,  and 
the  people  who  had  been  long  waiting  outside  were  permitted 
to  enter  to  view  the  remains.  The  head-piece  of  the  casket  was 
thrown  back  to  reveal  the  face  of  the  dead  Bishop.  The  guard 
of  honor  was  comjDosed  of  clergymen,  who  sat  within  the  chancel 
stalls  attired  in  their  surplices.  They  were  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Brown, 
Averitt,  Gilbert  Williams,  Falls,  Rev.  Drs.  Leonard,  Forrest, 
Hubard,  Hyland,  and  others.  The  lay  delegates  Avho  assisted  the 
guard  of  honor  were  Dr.  Hawkins,  of  Cockeysville,  Messrs.  Nourse, 
Venable,  Hutchinson,  Hill.  Davidson,  Young,  Abert,  H.  D.  Cooke, 
Duncanson,  Burchell,  Dr.  P.  Lansdale,  and  representatives  from 
every  Episcopal  church  in  the  District. 

During  the  day  there  was  a  special  meeting  of  the  Standing 
Committee  of  the  diocese  held  in  the  vestry-room  of  the  Church 
of  the  Ascension,  when  the  following  minute  was  unanimously 
adopted : 

' '  The  Standing  Committee  meets  under  the  shadow  of  a  great  sorrow.  The 
Bishop  of  the  diocese,  the  Rt.  Rev.  William  Pinkney,  D.  D..  LL.  D.,  died 


LIFE    OF    BlSHOl'    I'INKNEY.  345 

on  a  visitution  to  81u>r\voo(l  parish,  in  tho  nn-tory  of  said  })urish.  <in  flu- 
nioruin<i  of  the  4th  inst..  at  7  o'chK-k.  It  was  thi-  privih-nc  of  an  lionorfd 
member  of  this  Committee  to  be  with  him  in  his  hist  moments.  He  |ireaelii-(l 
in  the  parish  chnrch  tlie  eveninL;  before,  with  his  usual  tench-rness  and  fer- 
vor, about  the  state  of  the  blessed  dead,  and  the  rest  that  renuiinetli  fur  the 
people  of  GOD  ;  and  in  the  morning'  he  departed  to  enter  into  that  rest. 

"  We  are  thankful  to  GOD  for  the  mercy  that  spared  him  i)rolonj,'ed  bodily 
sickness,  and  ordered  that  his  transition  should  be  so  short,  so  iieaeeful.  auil 
blessed. 

"  We  are  deeply  conscious  of  the  inadequacy  f)f  words  to  express  ourseuse 
of  personal  bereavement,  and  of  the  loss  which  the  Church  and  the  diocese 
has  sustained  in  his  death. 

"  We  desire  to  record  our  gratitude  to  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  for 
giving  to  the  Diocese  of  Maryland  a  Bishop  whose  life  and  doctrine  have  set 
forth  among  us,  during  the  years  of  liis  Episcopate,  Christ  and  Him  cruci- 
fied with  Apostolic  zeal  and  love  and  power. 

"  We  are  thankful  for  the  spirit  of  devotion  to  duty,  of  wisdom,  of  self- 
sacrifice,  and  of  broad  charity,  which  characterized  his  labors  and  his  admin- 
istration of  the  affairs  of  the  diocese. 

"  We  are  sure  that  we  express  the  feeling  in  every  heart  and  home  of  the 
diocese,  both  of  the  clergy  and  laity,  that  in  the  death  of  Bishop  Pinkney 
we  have  lost  a  pastor,  a  guide,  and  a  true  father  in  GOD. 

"  We  would  unite  in  the  prayer  that,  for  the  peace  and  unity  of  the  Church 
in  Maryland,  and  for  our  children's  sake,  that  GOD  nuiy  keep  his  memory 
green. 

"  Mesolved,  That  the  Standing  Committee  tender  their  loving  sympathy  to 
the  family  of  our  beloved  Bishop  in  the  hour  of  their  bereavement. 

'^Resolved,  That  we  respectfully  recommend  to  the  rectors  and  vestries  of 
the  parishes  and  congregations  of  Maryland  to  have  suitable  symbols  of 
mourning  placed  in  their  churches  in  token  of  our  reverence  to  the  memory 
of  our  departed  Bishop,  and  our  sense  of  the  irreparable  loss  we  have  sus- 
tained in  his  death. 

'■'■Resolved,  That  the  Standing  Committee,  in  accordance  with  the  desire  of 
the  family,  attend  the  funeral,  this  afternoon  at  six  o'clock,  in  the  ChiU'ch 
of  the  Ascension,  in  Washington,  as  honorary  pall-bearers. 

"A.  P.  STRYKER, 

"  Secretary.^' 

At  five  o'clock,  an  hour  before  the  time  appointed  for  the  funeral 
solemnities,  a  meeting  of  the  visiting-  bishops,  clergy,  and  laity  of 
the  diocese,  and  others  who  had  accepted  the  invitation,  was  held 
in  the  basement  of  the  church.  The  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Lee,  of 
Delaware,  j^resided,  and  the  Re^-.  Dr.  A.  R.  Stuart,  of  George- 
town, acted  as  secretary.  Eulogistic  addresses  were  made  Ijy 
Bishop  Lee  and  by  Bishops  Lay,  of  Easton,  and  Peterkin,  of 
West  Virginia,  the  only  ones  of  the  eight  Bishops  invited  who 
were  able  to  attend.  At  this  meeting  the  following  resolutions 
were  rejDorted  by  a  committee  consisting  of  Rev.  Drs.  Julius  E. 
Grammer,  W.  L.  Hyland,  and  O.  Hutton.  They  were  read  by  Dr. 
Grammer  and  then  adopted  by  a  standing  vote : 

"  It  having  pleased  Almighty  GOD  (mr  Heavenly  Father,  in  His  wise  jirovi- 
dence,  to  remove  from  his  high  and  responsible  office  our  beloved  and 
honored  Bishop,  the  Rt.  Rev.  Willi.\m  Pinkney.  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  we,  the 
clergy  and  laity  of  the  diocese,  here  assembled  to  attend  his  funeral,  and 
bowing  in  submissive  faith  to  the  decree  of  the   Great  Head  of  the  Chnrch. 


346  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

desire  to  record  our  sincere  love  aud  veneration  for  this  departed  and  emi- 
nent servant  of  GOD. 

"  Distinguished  as  he  was  for  those  virtues  aud  attainments  which  adorned 
his  character  and  office,  he  united  the  gentleness  of  a  child  with  the  firm- 
ness and  courage  of  a  man.  In  his  death  the  diocese  has  lost  the  fostering 
care  of  a  father,  the  wisdom  of  a  well-fnrnished  and  exi)erienced  teacher; 
the  pulpit  of  a  faithful  aud  eloquent  preacher  of  the  Gospel,  ami  every  en- 
terprise of  philanthropy  and  religion  a  generous  and  effective  advocate. 

''The  church  bends  in  loving  and  reverent  sorrow  over  his  grave,  moistened 
with  the  tears  of  her  deep  bereavement. 

"  His  memory  needs  no  aid  of  the  sculptor  or  artist,  nor  the  muse  of  the 
poet,  to  preserve  it  from  the  oblivion  common  to  most  men.  His  monument 
is  to  be  found  in  the  sermons,  addresses,  appeals,  aud  stirring  words  of  coun- 
sel aud  encouragement  he  so  often  and  so  aljly  delivered  to  his  clergy  and 
people.     His  obituary  is  written  in  the  sorrowing  hearts  of  his  diocese. 

''  Bearing  a  name  immortal  in  the  annals  of  Maryland's  forensic  oratory, 
he  gave  the  lustre  of  piety  and  sacred  learning  to  the  highest  office  of  the 
Church  of  GOD.  Decided  in  his  convictions  of  truth,  brave  and  faithful  in 
his  testimony  to  the  word  of  GOD,  he  was  '  a  workman  that  needed  not  to 
be  ashamed.'  His  Episcopate  was  brief,  but  rich  in  influences  which  will 
stamp  their  impress  upon  the  mind  and  heart  of  his  diocese  for  all  time. 

"  A  stranger  to  all  resentments,  he  was  the  unyielding  friend  of  truth  and 
self-sacrificing  servant  of  diity.  His  hand  was  ever  open  to  dispense  the 
generous  charities  his  noble  heart  devised  ;  and  many  of  the  clergy  and  of 
the  laity  will  realize  that  they  have  lost,  not  only  a  Bishop,  but  a  liberal  bene- 
factor. His  presence  and  efforts  were  never  withheld  in  behalf  even  of  the 
lowliest  and  most  obscure  ;  and  his  name  is  identified  in  Maryland  with  all 
that  tends  to  advance  the  cause  of  religion  and  learning.  He  continued  in 
the  field  of  his  labors  with  unbated  zeal  and  energy,  aud  was  found  at  the 
last  call  of  his  Master,  like  a  faithful  servant,  at  his  post  of  duty.  Falling 
with  his  armor  on,  his  spirit  has  ascended  to  join  the  Apostles.  He  has  left 
the  priceless  legacy  of  a  stainless  name  and  an  unblemished  ministry. 
"  '  He  taiight  us  how  to  live. 

And  oh.  to(j  high  the  price  of  knowledge, 
He  taught  lis  how  to  die.' " 

The  visiting  Bisiiojjs  in  their  robes,  the  clergy  in  their  sur- 
plices, seventy-one  in  nnml:»er,  together  with  the  lay  delegates, 
then  passed  in  procession,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  C.  C.  Dun- 
canson,  to  the  street  and  into  the  church  by  the  main  entrance 
on  Massachusetts  avenue. 

Long  before  six  o'clock  the  buildingf  was  tilled,  the  crowd 
extending  far  out  to  the  sidewalk.  The  reserved  seats  in  the 
middle  aisle  Mere  occupied  by  the  relatives  of  the  deceased 
Bishoi^,  by  the  clergy,  the  vestrymen  of  the  church,  and  the  lay 
delegates.  Mr.  "SY.  ^Y.  Corcoran,  attended  by  his  relative,  Mr. 
0.  M.  Matthews,  occupied  seats  Avith  the  mourners.  The  hono- 
rary pall-bearers  were  the  members  of  the  Standing  Committee  : 
Bishops  Lee,  Lay.  and  Peterkin,  Rev.  Drs.  Lewin,  Chew,  Elliott, 
and  Hutton.  The  active  pall-bearers  were.  Henrv  E.  Davis,  N.  W. 
Burchell,  A.  J.  Forl^es,  H.  W.  Garnett,  W.  M.'  Shuster,  R.  W. 
Burgess,  J.  T.  Stevens,  and  C.  C.  Duncanscm. 

The  services  in  the  church  were  brief,  but  extremely  impres- 
sive.    The   opening   sentences   were  read  by   Bishop  Lee.     The 


LIFE  OF  r.isiKii'  riNKM:\.  :;.t7 

funeral  autbciu  swelled  out  sweetly  and  Kolenmly  from  tlw  chnir. 
under  the  direction  of  Professor  G.  AV.  AValtci\  the  or^'anisf,  who 
also  had  char-ice  of  the  music  when  Bislioji  Pinknky  was  conwe 
crated.  Bishop  Lay  then  read  the  lesson  finm  the  loth  <  Imi.tcr 
of  I  Corinthians.  The  creed  was  read  hy  Bishoj)  I'ctcrkiii,  Tli.' 
Eev.  Dr.  Elliott,  the  rector  of  the  chun'h,  nnnoiinccd  the  livnin. 
"  JESUS,  Saviour  of  my  soul."  Bishop  Lee  otVcrcd  tin-  coiMlnd 
ing-  i)rayer,  and  tlie  choir  ended  the  sei'vice  Iiy  sin^Mn^--  tlie  livnm. 
"  Jerusalem  the  o()l(]i.]i."" 

The  jiall  l)earers,  honorary  and  active,  then  took  cliai-^fe  of  the 
body,  and  the  funeral  i)rocession  took  its  way  towards  Oak  Hill. 

The  following-  interesting  descriptive  account  of  the  solemn 
and  impressive  services  at  the  cemetery  is  taken  from  one  of  tlie 
iniblications  of  the  city  press  issued  on  the  day  following  the 
funeral : 

'*  The  twilight  wiis  fast  bf'coming  darkness  when  tlie  jn-oeessicm.  ei>iisistin<,' 
of  nearly  one  hundred  carriages,  arrived  iit  Oak  Hill  Cemetery.  A  larye 
number  of  the  residents  of  Georgetown  had  already  obtained  jilaees  near  the 
chapel  where  the  body  was  to  be  placed  in  the  vault.  Hardly  a  breatli 
stirred.  The  low.  rumbling  peals  of  thunder  and  the  freciiient  vivid  ligiit- 
ning  flashes  caused  many  an  anxious  fear,  and  not  a  few  umbrellas  wi-n- 
raised.      Happily  they  were  not  needed. 

"At  alxmt  the  distance  of  fifty  feet  from  the  chaj)el  a  rope  had  been 
stretched,  forming  an  enclosure  into  which  only  the  clergy  and  the  invited 
laity  were  to  be  admitted. 

"At  length  the  white  robes  of  the  general  clergy  of  the  diocese  were  seen 
approaching  in  double  rank.  The  ropes  were  lowered  and  the  path  cleared. 
When  they  had  advanced  near  the  enclosure  the  rank  was  opened,  and  form- 
ing two  lines  they  stood  uncovered,  while  the  casket  and  the  bishops  and 
.standing  committee  passed  thnrngh.  Then  closing  rank  they  followed,  while 
in  their  rear  came  the  laity  in  double  rank.  As  the  cortege  jidvanced  Jiishop 
Lay  slowly  pronounced  the  sentences  from  the  prayer  bo<jk,  liishop  Peter- 
kiu  following  with  other  sentences.  The  sentence  in  the  servi<n'  beginning 
■  I  heard  a  voice  from  heaven,'  was  read  by  llev.  Mr.  Chew,  of  Haltiniori-, 
and  repeated  by  the  whole  clergy.  The  casket  was  then  lifted  into  the 
chapel,  which  had  been  lighted.  It  was  a  most  beautiful  and  inijiressive 
scene,  the  silent  and  solemn  cemetery  slowly  l)ei-oming  iMishrouded  in  tlie 
darkness  of  night,  the  light  streaming  through  the  brilliant  little  windows 
of  the  chapel,  the  vast,  still  assembly  standing  uncovered  in  expectancy,  an<l 
the  sknv,  impressive  tones  of  Kev.  Dr.  Lewin  committing  to  mother  earth 
the  last  of  his  old  friend,  Bishop  Pinkney. 

"After  the  conchuling  prayer  by  Dr.  Hutton,  of  Montgomery  county,  the 
benediction  v^-as  pronounced  by  Bishoj)  Lee,  and  the  vast  crowd,  awed  by 
the  magnificent  tribute  the  exercises  of  the  day  had  lieen  to  the  late  bishoji. 
cjuietly  and  slowly  sought  their  homes." 

Very  soon  after  the  decease  of  Bishoj)  Pixkxev.  who  stood  to- 
wards them  iuthe  twofold  relation  of  rector  and  bishoj).  the  vestry 
of  the  parish  of  the  Ascension  held  a  meeting  to  exi)ress  their 
estimate  of  his  character  and  their  profound  sorrow  under  the 
bereavement.     The  following  action  Avas  taken  : 


348  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

'■'■Besolutionii  of  the  Vestry  of  Ascension  Parish. 

"  ReKolred.  That  in  the  death  of  Bishop  Pinkney  we  recoguize  a  loss  to 
this  parish  and  to  the  Diocese  of  Maryhind.  the  full  measure  of  which  is 
incalculable  by  ordinary  standards,  and  to  the  expression  of  which  we  feel 
the  hopeless  inadequacy  of  human  language. 

"Steadfast  of  faith,' unfaltering  in  trust,  gentle,  unobtrusive,  unselfish, 
simple  even  as  a  child,  tilled  with" the  charity  that  hopeth  and  believeth  all 
things,  and  to  the  end  eagerly  responsive  to  every  suggestion  of  duty  ;  an 
humble-minded  but  earnest  servant  of  the  living  GOD,  in  the  midst  of  his 
devotion  to  his  master's  work,  in  the  ripeness  of  years,  in  the  plenitude  of 
matchless  power  and  Christian  grace,  his  was  that  farewell  to  earth  which 
is  not  death  but  glory. 

"Living  he  was  our  guide,  our  loving  counsellor,  our  trusted  friend,  our 
more  than  brother  ,-  and  dead,  his  memory  and  his  name  remain,  themselves 
the  full  measure  of  eulogy. 

"  Resolved.  That  this  recognition  of  the  unspeakable  loss  that  has  befallen 
us  be  spread  vtpon  the  jjarish  records  and  communicated  to  the  members  of 
his  family,  whose  greater  bereavement  in  vain  challenges  our  just  apprecia- 
tion." 

Soon  after  the  decease  of  Bishop  Pinkney,  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee of  the  diocese  deeming  it  proper,  and  ''  feeHng  assured 
that  the  entire  diocese  would  commend  their  action."  appointed 
a  special  memorial  service  to  "  be  held  in  the  Church  of  the 
Ascension,  Washington,  D.  C,  on  "Wednesday,  November  7,  at  11 
A.  M."  By  their  request  the  Bishop  of  Minnesota  consented  to 
preach  the  sermon. 

From  the  published  account  of  that  memorial  service  the  fol- 
lowing is  transferred  to  these  pages  : 

"  The  service  was  held  on  Wednesday.  November  7th.  There  were  present 
and  in  the  procession  the  Rt.  Rev.  H.  B.  \Miipple.  D.  D..  Bishop  of  Minne- 
sota, the  preacher  on  the  occasion  :  the  Rt.  Rev.  William  Bacon  Stevens, 
D.  D.,  LL.  D..  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania,  who  inesided  :  the  Rt.  Rev.  T.  B. 
Lyman,  D.  D..  Bishop  of  North"  Carolina:  the  Rt.  Rev.  A.  M.  Randolph, 
D'.  D..  Assistant  Bishop  of  Virginia;  the  Dean  and  Professors  oi  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  of  Virginia,  and  the  vestry  oi  the  parish  of  the  Ascension.  A 
very  large  congregation  was  present." 

Some  passages  fi-om  the  niemoiial  sermon  of  the  Bishop  of 
Minnesota  may  very  properly  be  here  given.  The  text  was  from 
II  Tlmothi/,  4 :  7,  8.  Towards  the  close  of  his  sermon  Bishop 
Whipple  thus  spoke  : 

"  In  art  and  letters,  in  science  and  in  theology,  he  was  a  diligent  stitdent, 
a  man  of  varied  learning  :  and  all  his  gifts  and  gains  were  consecrated  to 
GOD.  He  was  an  intensely  human  man  ;  as  guileless  as  a  Christian  child  : 
a  heart  as  tender  as  a  woman's,  and  yet  united  with  the  bravery  of  the 
sturdiest  manhood.  He  bore  so  many  sorrows  for  others  he  quite  forgt)t  his 
own.  He  gave  so  mitch,  men  wondered  at  the  wealth  of  his  self-denial.  He 
never  courted  i)raise  :  he  never  asked.  What  will  the  world  say  'i  He  gave  as 
he  preached  and  lived,  as  unto  Christ.  He  was  one  <»f  the  most  chivalrous 
of  men.  He  instinctively  took  his  place  beside  the  wronged.  He  took  no 
chances  for  the  winning  side.  He  saw  the  heart-ache  and  the  sorrow  in 
others,  and  his  great,  tender  heart   was  always  ready  with  its  sympathy  in 


LIFE    OF    lilsnop    I'lNKXEY.  'iV.) 

the  liour  tif  iici-il.  1  kiifw  him  first  in  thi>  diirk  ilays  ..I'  our  Indian  sorrow, 
when  my  i)il),'riniu^t's  to  Washington  were  a  il'donifiii  ihiya  \\h,-u  niv  lieurt 
wouhl  luivc  broken  hnt  for  the  h)ve  of  men  like  Hall. 'Whittin^luiin.  itml 
PiNKNKV.  who  sent  me  home  with  a  braver  heart.  From  the  chiv  (iOD 
called  him  to  be  your  Bishop  he  was  my  bosom  friend.  He  eanie'all  th<- 
way  to  Minnesota  to  see  our  work  and  to  eheer  us  with  his  lovin^;  words. 
GOD  only  knows  the  debt  I  owe  to  his  preeious  memory.  I  think  his  visit 
to  Minnesota  was  one  of  the  brightest  of  his  life.  Hi-  eertaiidy  won  all 
hearts.  The  poor  Indians  whom  he  met  still  remember  him  as  one  of  their 
truest  friends.  Through  all  these  years  I  have  received  his  messages  of  love. 
Sometimes  he  sent  my  daughters  sweet  Christian  l)allads  so  full  of  love  and 
CHRIST  they  touched  every  lieart.  Each  year  he  selected  and  sent  with  his 
own  hand  a  medal  to  the  school.  His  name  will  always  l)ea  household  word 
in  St.  Mary's  Hall.  His  last  letter,  written  a  few  days  before  liis  deatli,  was 
to  tell  me  of  his  plan  to  help  me  complete  the  work  lie  loved  so  well.  As  I 
look  back  on  the  sweet  intercourse  of  years.  I  cannot  recall  one  word  that 
dying  I  would  blot.  I  never  heard  him  speak  one  unkind  word.  I  cannot 
recall  a  single  censure  of  any  member  of  his  flock.  He  had  faults;  but 
who  was  ever  so  quick  to  acknowledge  them  and  rejjair  the  wrong  ?  Who 
felt  so  ki^eu  a  sorrow  if  by  any  chance  he  wounded  another's  heart  ?  He 
would  have  confessed  that  he  was  a  fallible,  sinful  man  :  ami  so  day  l»y  day 
he  carried  his  sins  where  we  all  must  go — to  JESUS  CHRIST  the  Saviour. 

''  Bishop  PiNKNEY  had  passed  the  meridian  of  his  life  when  (JOD  called 
him  to  his  holy  office.  It  was  toward  evening,  and  the  day  was  far  spent. 
He  saw  in  this  ofltice  what  all  thoughtful  men  must  see — the  loss  of  liome. 
the  giving  vip  of  ease,  the  l)earing  of  heavy  l>urdens,  the  censures  of  men 
who  do  not  know  y(m,  and  a  shorter  road  to  an  early  giuive.  It  was  the 
Saviour's  call.  He  obeyed  it  with  a  willing  heart.  He  entered  on  his  work 
with  all  the  l)uoyancy  of  youth.  The  thought  that  it  was  towards  evening 
roused  every  energy  of  his  soul.  Few  of  our  youngest  bishops  couhl  bear 
the  strain  of  his  incessant  toil.  He  was  always  in  the  forefr(jnt  of  busy  work. 
He  brought  up  in  an  incredi1)le  short  space  the  arrearages  of  years.  He 
believed  in  the  fatherhood  of  his  office.  He  loved  his  flock  with  the  teuder- 
est  love.  I  never  knew  a  bishop  who  felt  so  keenly  the  trials  and  i)rivatious 
of  his  clergy.  His  last  act,  to  divide  his  salary  with  brothers  in  CHRIST. 
revealed  the  law  of  his  loving,  unselfish  life. 

''  I  cannot  give  the  record  of  his  ]>ishoj)'s  life.  It  is  written  in  your  hearts. 
it  is  written  in  heaven.  Death  came  at  last  without  warning.  There  was  no 
sound  of  foot-fall  on  the  threshold.  He  laid  down  to  rest  :  he  awoke  in 
Paradise.  It  was  not  the  sudden  death  from  which  in  holy  litany  we  cry  to 
Ije  delivered.  All  his  life  he  had  been  gathering  manna  for  the  last  journey. 
There  were  no  days  of  pain  and  suffering,  waiting  on  the  jjhysician's  skill. 
In  one  moment  the  rift  in  the  parted  cloud  opened  upon  the  land  afar  off. 
where  they  see  the  King  in  his  beauty." 

At  the  convention  of  the  diocese,  following  the  death  of  Bisho]) 
PiNKNEY,  held  m  May,  1884,  a  committee  appointed  for  the  pur- 
I)Ose  reported  to  the  hndj  an  T/)  ^Linor'uon  minute,  which  was 
unanimously  adopted  by  a  rising-  vote  and  ordered  to  l>c  placed 
upon  the  joi;rnal : 

'•  Minute. 

"  The  clergy  and  laity  of  the  convention  of  the  Diocese  of  Maryland 
now  assembled,  iipon  this  the  tirst  occasion  of  the  meeting  of  the  U»\\  since 
the  death  of  our  late  lamented  chief  pastor,  the  Et.  Rev.  Wm.  Pixkney.  D. 
D.,  LL.  D.,  Bishop  of  Maryland,  desire  to  record  in  grateful  and  loving 
remembrance  our  high  appreciati<ni  of  his  character  and  life  and  services. 


350  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

' '  It  pleased  our  Heavenly  Father  to  call  him  to  the  rest  of  the  faithful  in 
Paradise,  on  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  July  last,  while  he  was  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  sacred  duties  of  his  office  and  with  only  a  brief  premonition 
that  the  departing  spirit  was  passing  into  that  blessed  rest.  In  the  seventy- 
fourth  year  of  his  age  and  in  the  thirteenth  year  of  his  consecration,  our 
beloved"  Bishop  closed  a  ministry  and  an  episcopate  signally  marked  with 
enduring  results  of  good  and  blessing  to  the  Church.  Called  in  the  matu- 
rity of  his  wisdom  and  experience,  and  in  the  ripeness  of  the  graces  that 
adorned  his  character  and  life,  to  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of  the  Epis- 
copal office,  he  met  and  fulfilled  those  duties  iind  responsibilities  with 
extraordinary  zeal  and  unswerving  fidelity.  His  whole  soul  was  aglow  with 
the  Spirit  of  CHKIST :  his  preaching  full  of  the  Gospel  in  eloquence, 
earnestness,  and  power:  his  administration  in  office  and  government  as  firm 
as  it  was  loving,  as  faithful  as  it  was  gentle  :  his  whole  life  beautiful  in  its 
Gospel  simplicity  and  rich  in  the  friiits  of  holiness  and  Christian  love.  He 
was  ever  vigilant  as  a  faithful  guardian  on  the  watch-towers  of  Zion,  firm 
and  lirave  where  duty  called,  abounding  in  labors  in  season  and  out  of  season, 
full  <jf  sympathy  and  tenderness  where  need  or  troiible  lay,  and  ever  ready 
to  give  liis  own  services  and  dispense  his  own  means  for  help  and  comfort 
wherever  want  or  scjrrow  was  felt. 

'•  "While  mourning  the  great  loss  to  the  Church  we  bow  in  submission  to  the 
Divine  will,  and  gratefully  and  lovingly  cherish  the  memory  of  William 
PiNKNEY.  the  late  Bishop  of  Maryland. 

"  Resolved,  That  this  minute  of  our  memorial  action  be  placed  upon  the 
journal  of  the  convention,  and  a  copy  be  sent  to  the  family  of  the  deceased 
prelate." 

Very  numerous  and  from  many  quarters  were  the  memorial 
tributes  which  came  to  the  family  of  the  deceased  Bishoj).  full  of 
expression  of  heartfelt  sorrow,  and  of  the  high  estimate  in  which 
he  was  held  for  his  holy  life,  and  his  unsparing  labors  in  the 
Church.     These  cannot  be  here  transcribed,  nor  is  it  necessary. 

Two  other  facts,  however,  in  this  connection,  need  to  be  stated, 
and  they  both  cluster  alike  around  the  memory  of  Bishop  Pink- 
NEY  and  the  name  and  muuiticence  of  the  venerable  Mr.  W.  W. 
Corcoran. 

Soon  after  the  burial  of  Bishop  Pixkney,  Mr.  Corcoran  caused 
to  be  designed  and  executed  a  marl^le  monument  of  heroic  size, 
resting  on  a  granite  pedestal,  to  mark  the  grave  of  the  Bishop, 
in  the  Oak  Hill  Cemetery.  He  took  an  especial  interest  in  the 
whole  work  of  its  preparation  and  erection,  and  spared  no  expense 
for  the  completeness  of  the  structure  in  durability  and  in  its 
sculjitural  execution  and  finish.  It  stands  in  a  conspicuous  posi- 
tion,* near  the  portals  of  the  cemetery,  and  is  an  object  of  promi- 
nence and  striking  beauty  as  one  enters  within  the  hallowed 
precincts.  It  has  been  very  truly  said  that  Bishop  Pinkney  needed 
no  such  monument  for  his  commemoration.  All  along,  for  many 
years,  he  had  been,  quite  unconsciously  to  himself,  building  vip 


♦Permission  was  obtained  from  the  authorities  of  the  cemetery  to  place 
the  Bishop's  grave  and  monument  upon  the  lawn  near  the  entrance  ;  a 
section  not  appropriated  for  burial  purposes,  and  opposite  the  J.  H.  Payne 
monument. 


LIFE    (ir    I'.IMKil'    I'INKNKY.  .'{'jI 

in  the  hearts  of  those  who  knew  iiiid  hived  liim  u  iiioniiiiKiit  umn- 
j^recious  tliaii  bronze  or  niarhle.  And  heeauso  it  was  so,  Mr.  Cor- 
coran felt  that  he  eouhl  well  devote  a  portion  of  that  wealtli 
which  GOD  had  <>;iven  him.  to  exju-ess  his  love  and  reverence  for 
such  a  character  and  life,  by  placin«,'  a  siil)stantial  and  costly 
marble  monument  to  mark  the  liishop's  j^rave,  and  j^'ive  its  silent 
though  powerful  teaching  to  the  hearts  of  the  living. 
The  inscrii)tious  on  the  monument  are  as  follows: 

"  (South  front) :  Mitre,  scroll,  and  c-rozier. 
"  Ou  the  scroll,  '  lu  crnce  sahis.' — Pixkxey. 


"  (East  front ) :  Sacred  to  the  nieniorv  of  tin- lii;,')it  I'lcvi-PMid  Wilmam  1'ixk- 
NEY,  D.  D..  LL.  1).  Born  April  17.  ISKl.  Died  July  4.  Ikk:}.  A  >,'uili'l.'s« 
and  fearless  man  of  GOD.  brilliant  in  intellect,  steadfast  in  trial,  tender  and 
true  in  friendship,  he  so  adorned  his  life  with  manly  virtues  and  Christian 
graces,  that  his  earthly  career  remains  an  imjierishahle  memento  of  that 
Apostolic  sjiirit  of  which  he  was  both  the  elixpient  advocate  and  heautiful 
example.  

"  Placuit  Deo,  et  translatiis  est  in  Paradisum. 

"  (North  front)  :  A  cross  and  crown. 

"  (West  front ) :  In  memory  of  Elizalieth  Lloyd  Pinkuey.  wife  of  the  Ki^dit 
Reverend  William  Pinkney,  who  fell  asleep  April  2.S.  IMT'.I.  Natural  refine- 
ment,  high  intelligence,  and  cultivated  taste  were  seen  in  her  dignitied  wonnm- 
hood  as  she  drew'  the  serenity  and  beauty  of  her  soul  fi'oni  the  traminil 
depths  of  a  holy  and  consistent  life." 

Upon  one  of  the  bi;rial  lots  not  far  from  this  Pixknev  moini- 
ment  may  be  seen  another,  far  less  costly  and  im])osing,  but 
appropriately  marking  the  grave  of  one  who  was  a  very  dc-ar  ami 
intimate  friend  of  the  Bishop,  that  of  the  Rev.  Meyer  Lewin, 
T>.  D.,  erected  also  by  the  munificence  of  Mr.  Corcoran.  As  Dr. 
Lewin  was  so  closely  connected  with  Bishop  Pinkney  by  the  ties 
of  friendship  and  by  zealous  co-operation  with  him  in  his  Episco- 
l^al  work,  it  may  be  jn-oper  in  this  connection  to  make  brief  refer- 
ence to  the  circumstances  of  his  death  and  to  the  arrangements 
made  by  Mr.  Corcoran  for  the  burial  in  the  Oak  Hill  Cemetery. 
The  sad  occurrence  of  the  sudden  and  lamented  death  of  Dr. 
Lewin  took  place  on  the  evening  of  the  2Sth  of  ]\Iay.  iSSd,  only  a 
few  hours  after  the  close  of  the  diocesan  convention  held  that 
year  in  the  city  of  AVashington.  Ou  this  ru-casion,  with  his  char- 
acteristic liberality.  Mr.  Corcoran  came  forward  to  prolVc  r  to  bear 
the  entire  charges  of  the  sepulture  of  the  remains  in  the  Oak  Hill 
Cemetery  near  those  of  the  deceased  Bishop:  and  he  also  pro- 
posed that  the  remains  of  Dr.  Lewin's  deceased  wife  slionld  be 
removed  from  Upper  Marlb(nough  and  be  placed  beside  those  of 
her  husband.  These  generous  proposals  were  fully  carried  otit. 
and  an  appropriate  tomb  erected  over  the  gravi".  The  fdUnwing 
inscriptions  were  engraved  upon  it : 


352  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY 

"  Meyee  Lewin,  D.  D. 
Born  at  Tboru  on  the  Vistula,  in  the  Grand  Duchy  of  Posen,  in  Prussia, 

August  15,  1816. 

Fell  asleep  in  the  City  of  Washington,  May  28.  1886. 

An  upright  and  fearless  man   of  GOD,  he   knew  not  deijarture  from  the 

path  of  duty. 

(Keverse  side.  J  '  I  have  fought  a  good  fight.  I  have  finished  my  course,  I 

have  kept  the  faith.' 

(Mrs.  Lewiu.)    Eleanor  Adams, 

wife  of 

Kev.  Mever  Lewiu.  D.  D. 

Born  Feb.  15,  1832. 

Fell  asleep  Feb.  23,  1885. 

'  Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart.'  " 

At  the  request  of  the  family  and  vestry  of  the  parish  the  remains 
were  first  removed  to  Upper  Marlborough,  to  be  placed  in  Trinity 
Church,  of  which  the  deceased  had  been  rector,  for  the  funeral 
services  to  be  held  there ;  after  which  they  were  immediately 
l^rought,  with  those  of  Mrs.  Lewin,  to  "Washington,  for  interment 
in  the  Oak  Hill  Cemetery. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  the  Church  a  short  time  before  the  serv- 
ices, the  following  minute  was  adopted : 

"  The  Bishop,  the  clergy,  and  the  laity  of  the  Diocese  of  Maryland,  here 
assembled,  on  this  solemn  occasion  of  the  funeral  of  the  late"  lamented  Rev- 
erend Meyer  Lewin,  Doctor  of  Divinity,  desire  to  express  the  profound  sense 
of  bereavement  which  the  Church  has  sustained  by  the  death  of  this  eminent 
divine  and  most  faithful  servant  of  our  LORD.  Suddenly  called  from  our 
midst  at  the  close  of  the  council  of  this  diocese,  where  he  had  been  honored 
with  most  important  trusts  for  the  welfare  of  the  Church,  we  deeply  feel  this 
afflictive  disijensatiou.  In  the  midst  of  our  sorrow  we  are  cheered  with  the 
most  consolatory  and  animating  reflections  that  our  departed  brother,  so 
pure  and  holy  in  his  life,  and  so  faithful  and  laborious  in  the  priesthood  of 
the  Church,  has  passed  to  the  rest  of  the  blessed  in  Paradise. 

"  We  here  record  our  loving  tribute  to  his  memory  and  our  grateful  appre- 
ciation of  the  services  which,  for  more  than  forty  years  in  the  sacred  minis- 
try, he  has  rendered  to  the  cause  of  CHRIST  and  the  great  work  of  the  Church. 
By  the  massive  strength  and  force  of  his  mind  and  character,  by  his  Godly 
learning,  so  vast  and  varied,  by  his  efficiency  and  thoroughness  in  all  offices 
of  trust  and  duty  committed  to  him,  and  by  his  unyielding  courage  in  main- 
taining the  sincere  and  honest  cotivictions  of  his  soiil  respecting  all  matters 
of  Divine  truth  and  duty  under  the  Gospel  and  in  the  Church  of  our  LORD, 
he  has  left  a  name  and  a  record  which  will  be  long  remembered  and  cherished. 

"Not  his  afflicted  family  only,  nor  his  friends  and  brethren  in  the  minis- 
try in  this  diocese  alone,  but  very  many  throughout  the  church  at  large  will 
lament  the  loss  by  death  of  Meyer  Lewin. 

"  We  bow  submissively  to  the  Divine  will  in  this  dispensation,  and  recog- 
nize in  it  a  solemn  call  and  warning  to  ourselves  to  be  faitlifiil  in  the  stew- 
ardship committed  to  us  in  the  Church  of  our  LORD,  and  to  be  ever  watch- 
ful and  ready  for  the  summons  of  the  Master  when  He  shall  call  us  to  our 
great  account." 

At  this  same  meeting  an  admirable  paper,  in  inet/iorlm/t  of  Dr. 
Lewin,  was  read  by  the  Rev.  Thos.  G.  Addison,  D.  D.  It  was  a 
noble  tribute  to  the  character  and  worth  of  one  who  had  been  so 


LIFE    (»r    niSIKil'    riNKNKY.  8r)3 

prommeiit  in  tlic  coimcils  and  activities  i.f  tlir  Clmicli  f..r  ii,ai,v 
years.  The  coiiclmliiin-  ])ara-rui.lis  ..f  tl,at  just  aii.l  u.ll  mcnt.-il 
tribute  may  be  here  inserted  : 

"Dr.  Lewin  was  a  man  of  stn.njjj  convictions.  He  lm<l  no  \mtth-  witli 
doubt.  The  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST  was  a  pivscnt  roilitv  to  liim.  Tlw  Hil.l.- 
was  the  vcri/  Wtad  of  GOD.  The  Cliurch  which  he  scrvcl  was  to  liim  tli.- 
Church  of  CHRIST,  the  livin<;  Church  of  the  living  (;OI),  surcharged  with 
livint,'  energies  for  the  sauctitication  and  redeini)tion  of  h.st  men.  He  min- 
istered as  one  who  knew  his  ministry  wouhl  not  lie  in  vain  :  f  liat  tlie  faithful 
discharge  of  his  duties  must  resuh  in  good  to  men's  souls.  'I'hus  duiv 
became  to  him  the  most  sacred  thing  in  the  universe;  anil  so.  as  we  all 
know,  no  personal  consideration  of  ease  or  inclination,  no  amount  of  ojipo. 
sition,  no  peril  of  life,  no  feebleness  of  age,  hindered  him  in  the  path  of 
obedience.  We  have  all  wondered  at  his  persistent  activity.  H<'  never 
hesitated  to  accept  any  burden  of  work  the  Church  imi)osed  upon  him. 
Only  a  few  weeks  since  he  was  called  to  Baltimore  on  matters  of  imjiortance 
to  the  diocese.  His  i)hysician  forljade  his  going,  insisting  that  he  should 
remain  quietly  at  home.  The  hour  came  ;  the  call  of  «hity  was  more  im- 
perative than  the  claims  of  health.  The  threat  of  a  ])rotesfing  conscienen 
was  more  dreaded  than  the  threat  of  death.  He  was  in  his  ])lace  in  Haiti- 
more  at  the  appointed  hour.  Again  the  faithful  ]>hysician.  as  the  diocesan 
convention  drew  near,  assured  him  that  he  would  not  survive  the  excite- 
ment incident  to  his  duties  in  that  body.  This  alternative  was  jiresented 
to  him — the  convention  or  death.  Duty,  said  the  convention.  Fear,  said 
death.  His  answer  was.  '  I  accept  deatli  and  embrace  duty.'  What  a  sub- 
lime spectacle  of  heroism  is  here.  That  man.  engaged  in  his  duties,  voting, 
debating,  exchanging  greetings  with  his  friends,  gives  no  sign  of  alarm. 
He  moves  among  us  calm  and  trancjuil.  His  interest  in  his  work  is  unabated. 
No  tear  is  in  the  old  hero's  eye  as  he  looks  around  upon  many  a  jjrecious 
friend,  though  he  knows  he  will  see  their  faces  ntj  more  upon  earth.  He 
will  step  from  that  convention  into  the  grave.  Yet  his  thoughts  are  not  of 
himself.  A  great  cause — the  interests  of  the  Diocese  of  his  l>eloved  Mary- 
land— absorbs  him.  No  room  is  in  his  large  lu'art  for  selfish  rejiinings  or 
selfish  fears.  JESDS,  his  brother  Jew,  bids  him  work.  He  does  the  work 
bravely — as  bravely  as  ever  mailed  warrior  riished  to  death  upon  embattled 
hosts.  He  died.  To  the  dear  LORD  whom  he  loved  and  served  he  had  all 
along  committed  his  soul  in  perfect  trust.  He  was  brave — lirave  unto  death 
in  the  Master's  cause,  because,  loving  not  himself,  he  loved  his  Lord. 
Maryland's  ff/'fat  presbyter  has  fallen — great  in  intellect,  great  in  will,  but 
greatest  of  all  in  Heart." 

The  other  fact,  referred  to  on  a  precetlin*';'  page,  relates  to  the 
memorial  window  of  Bishop  Pinkney,  jilaced  in  8t.  John's  Parish 
Church,  Washington  city,  by  Mr.  W.  W.  Corcoran.  The  Kev.  Dr. 
W.  A.  Leonard,  then  rector  of  the  Church,  now  Bishop  of  Ohio, 
kindly  furnishes  the  writer  with  a  descri]iti()n  of  the  window. 

Dr.  Leonard  writes : 

"The  Hon.  W.  W.  Corcoran,  whose  affectionate  friendship  for  Bishop 
PiNKNEY  manifested  itself  in  a  variety  of  tender  and  beautiful  tributes,  saw- 
fit  to  place  in  St.  John's  Parish  Church,  Washington,  I).  C,  a  memorial 
window  to  the  deceased  prelate.  It  is  unique  in  design,  and  strong  in  its  artis- 
tic conception  and  develoiJUient,  and  is  an  ornament  to  this  venerable  and 
historic  church,  which  was  always  a  welcome  place  of  worshiji  for  the  dear 
Bishop,  and  a  parish  m  which  Mr.  Corcoran  was  for  years  an  honored  vestry- 
man and  i^ewliolder.  This  window  is  of  French  glass,  nuide  at  Chart  res, 
France,  at  the  famous  establishment  of  Lerin. 


354  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

"  Immediately  beneath  it  in  the  lower  transept  is  a  memorial  window  to 
the  Hon.  Montgomery  Blair,  one  of  the  Bishop's  warmest  friends,  and  one 
of  Maryland's  honored  laymen." 

The  description  of  the  window  and  its  inscription  are  taken 
from  the  "  Report  of  the  Committee  on  Stained  Glass  "Windows  " 
in  St.  John's  Church,  pubHshed  by  the  vestry  (pp.  24-25) : 

"The  large  semicircular  window  in  the  gallery  of  the  north  transept, 
No.  13,  represents  the  scene  between  St.  Peter  and  St.  John  in  the  palace  of 
the  high  priest,  which  is  described  l)y  the  latter  in  his  gospel  f  ch.  xviii,  v  : 
15-16),  in  the  following  words  :  'And  Simon  Peter  followed  JESUS,  and  so 
did  another  disciple  ;  that  disciple  was  known  unto  the  high  priest,  and  went 
in  with  JESUS  into  the  palace  of  the  high  priest.  But  Peter  stood  at  the 
door  without.  Then  went  out  that  other  disciple,  which  was  known  unto 
the  high  priest,  and  spake  lanto  her  that  kept  the  door,  and  brought  in  Peter.' 
At  the  left  of  the  picture,  through  a  door  opened  by  the  servant,  we  see  St. 
Peter,  hesitating,  and  hardly  daring  to  enter.  St.  John,  the  principal  figure 
in  front  upon  the  left  side  of  the  picture,  makes  a  sign  to  him  to  come  in. 
To  the  right  a  servant  is  kneeling  lighting  the  fire,  spoken  of  in  the  25th 
verse  of  the  same  chapter,  and  in  the  55th  verse  of  St.  Luke,  ch.  xxii.  In  the 
rear  on  some  raised  steps  we  see  the  high  priest  sitting,  and  the  Saviour 
standing  before  him.  Between  the  two  groups  are  several  figures  deeply 
interested  in  what  is  going  on  :  some  of  them  women,  shocked  by  it ;  others, 
men  questioning  or  deriding  CHRIST.  This  picture,  designed  expressly  for 
this  window,  is  a  worthy  and  noble  companion  to  the  design  from  Raphael, 
which  it  faces.     It  bears  the  inscription  : 

"  The  Gift  of  W.  W.  Corcoran.  In  Memory  of  the  Right  Reverend  Wil- 
liam PiNKNEY,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.  :  Born,  April  17,  1810  ;  Consecrated  Assistant 
Bishop  of  this  Diocese  (Marvland)  October  6,  1870;  succeeded  to  the  full 
charge  of  the  Diocese  (Marvlaud)  October  17,  1879  ;  Died,  Julv  4,  1883.  A 
GOOD  Man,  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  of  Faith." 

Referring  to  the  career  and  character  of  Bishop  Pikkney,  the 
Committee  add : 

"  It  is  a  privilege  to  our  church  to  possess  such  a  noble  memorial  of  him." 


LIFE    OK    I'.ISIlol'    I'INKNKV.  355 


CHAPTER  XXX VIIL 

('ONCLUSION. 

The  just  portraiture  of  a  man  in  his  cliaiactci  uml  lilc  iciimrts 
as  clear  and  full  a  statement  as  can  be  <jfiven  as  to  wliat  lie  was, 
and  how  he  tilled  his  place  and  did  his  work.  The  facts  and  inci- 
dents may  be  very  simple,  such  as  come  up  in  all  earnest  work  in 
life,  with  uothin<>-  to  give  to  that  work  the  cLiim  of  heroic  action 
or  gain  for  it  a  wide  renown :  and  yet  they  may  illustrate  the 
noblest  qualities  of  our  humanity,  as  that  liinnaiiity  is  chastened, 
elevated,  and  sanctified  by  the  S})irit  of  C'HlilST  in  the  Holy 
Commuiiicm  of  the  Church. 

The  true  eminence  of  a  man  is  in  tlie  si)irit  witli  which  he  does 
his  work.  It  is  by  such  a  standard  we  must  measure  the  life- 
work  of  Bishop  PiNKNEY  ;  and  when  we  come  to  test  it  \)\  resultH 
we  find  how  efiective  it  was  for  good  and  blessing.  That  work 
and  life  speak  for  the  man,  the  priest,  and  the  bishop,  apart  from 
any  words  of  commendation.  There  may  be,  as  admittedly  there 
was,  more  or  less  of  infirmity,  mistake,  error,  failure,  in  short, 
even  faults — for  who  is  exemi)t  from  these? — l)ut  there  were  none 
that  could  mar  the  beauty  and  reality  of  true  and  solid  wortli,  or 
lessen  the  tribute  due  to  one  whose  whole  course  tlirougliout 
many  long  years  Avas  marked  by  an  extracndinary  devotion  to 
high  principle,  holy  duty,  and  loving  toil  in  the  resjionsible  posi- 
tions of  official  trusts  in  the  Church  of  GOD. 

It  has  rarely  liapi)ened  in  the  experience  of  any  clergyman  to 
be  called  to  the  Episcopate  imder  such  peculiar  circumstances  as 
those  that  existecl  when  Dr.  Pinkxey  was  elected.  For  thirty 
years  Bisho})  Whittingham  had  filled  the  position  with  such  noted 
prominence  of  intellectual  power,  commanding  iiifiuence,  and 
great  force  of  character,  that  to  be  placed  beside  him  as  the 
Assistant  Bishop,  and  afterwards  succeed  him  in  sole  jurisdiction, 
was  a  severe  test  and  a  somewhat  trying  position  for  any  clergy- 
man, whatever  his  gifts.  Moreover,  there  was  the  well-grounded 
apprehension  that,  as  the  administration  of  the  Diocese  slionld 
pass  from  the  Senior  Bishop  to  his  assistant  and  successor,  (|ues- 
tions  and  difficulties,  already  existing  though  slumbering,  would 
rise  up  to  call  for  the  exercise  of  great  wisdoui,  jiatit-nce  and 
firmness  on  the  part  of  the  diocesan.  It  was  the  general  feeling 
and  belief  throughout  the  diocese,  that  Dr.  Pinkxey  possessed 
the  qualities  specially  fitting  him  for  the  E})iscopate.  His 
election  was  accordingly  secured  with  a   remarkable  unanimity. 


356  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

His  ripe  culture  in  godly  learning,  his  long  experience  in  the 
ministry  as  a  devoted  and  laborious  pastor,  his  sound  and  con- 
servative church  man  ship,  together  with  his  sjDecially  attractive 
personal  traits  of  character  and  manners,  served  to  mark  him  out 
for  the  position.  We  have  seen  that,  from  the  day  of  his  conse- 
cration to  the  last  evening  of  the  thirteenth  year  of  his  Episcopate, 
he  gave  himself  with  vintiring  energy  to  the  laborious  duties  that 
devolved  upon  him — for  nine  years  as  the  Assistant  Bishop  doing 
all  the  active  work,  and  for  nearly  four  years  following  doing  that 
work  with  the  superadded  responsibility  of  sole  jurisdiction. 

Bishoj)  PiNKNEY  was  no  partisan.  Broad  in  his  sympathies, 
Catholic  in  his  views,  and  tenaciously  adherent  to  the  doctrinal 
standards  and  liturgic  requirements  of  the  Church,  he  was  a  lover 
of  jDeace.  His  Episcopate  was  characterized,  as  all  his  preceding 
ministerial  life  had  been,  by  a  spirit  of  love  and  a  singularly  earn- 
est devotion  to  active  work.  His  sole  aim  was  to  present  in  the 
fulness  of  power,  and  with  great  persuasiveness,  the  blessed 
trviths  of  the  Gospel  as  held  in  and  guarded  by  the  Chui'ch.  He 
did  not  consider  himself,  his  health,  his  convenience,  his  comfort, 
or  even  the  sacred  claims  of  home,  dearly  as  he  loved  his  home, 
in  its  sweet  and  pure  enjoyments.  It  was  enough  for  him  to 
S2:)end  and  be  spent  in  his  Master's  service.  Eager  to  accomplish 
all  he  could,  he  made  brief  record  of  his  work  in  one  place  and 
hurried  on  to  another.  He  was  so  wholly'  absorbed  in  this  work 
that  one  wonders  at  the  amount  of  readmg  and  writing  which  he 
certainly  accomj^lished,  for  he  kept  himself  Avell  versed  in  the 
questions  which  were  agitating  the  Church  both  in  this  country 
and  in  England,  never  failed  to  be  prompt  in  his  large  correspond- 
ence, and  was  always  prepared  with  freshly  written  sermons. 
Besides,  he  was  ever  mindful  even  of  little  matters  of  detail  where 
any  though tfulness  or  kindness  for  others  was  concerned,  and 
ever  ready  in  lo^ing  helj)  for  all  Avho  needed  counsel,  sympathy, 
or  aid. 

No  statistical  records  can  adequately  exj^ress  or  measure  the 
results  of  such  an  Episcopate.  Far  beyond  and  above  such  rec- 
ords, whether  meagre  or  notably  great,  are  those  intangible  and 
spiritual  influences  which  are  felt  for  enduring  good  in  the  souls 
of  all  those  who  are  privileged  to  come  within  theu"  sphere.  The 
man  does  his  work  and  passes  away.  Others  come  up  on  the 
arena  where  his  life-work  was  done  to  do  in  turn  their  work.  But 
no  work  for  GOD  and  CHRIST  in  the  Church  and  for  sinful,  suf- 
fering mortals  is  ever  lost.  There  is  a  cumulative  power  in  the 
lives  of  the  righteous.     "  The  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed.'' 

There  are,  however,  records  which  show  the  healthful  growth 
of  the  diocese  in  material  respects.  Shortly  after  the  Bishop's 
death,  the  then  secretary  of  the  diocesan  convention,  Mr.  Joseph 
Packard,  Jr.,  placed  in  one  of  the  Church  papers  the  following 


LIFK    OF    lilSllol'    I'INKNKV.  'A'tl 

statements,  relative  to  the  statisticK  of  the  dioccKc  at  the  time  of 
Bishoj)   Pinkney's   consecration  in  IKTd   ;iii<l  liis  (hM-casc  in  .hilv 

1883 : 

"*  *  *  'fl'<'i't' is  fiiou^'b  in  th(^  ti^,'uios  t(.  inaki-  Mnrvlaiid  clnirrhiu.-n 
grateful  for  his  lift-  iiiul  exaiui)le.  The  f.-llowiui;  table  is  lua.l.'  up  fr..iii  th- 
convention  j<jinnal  for  1«7(),  tlie  year  of  his  eonsecrution,  and  tlnit  for  1nm:i, 
the  year  of  his  death  : 

Number  of  cler-,'y i;{.,  i,;^ 

Number  of  eoniniunieauts 12,  7i;i  '*2  Xf)r, 

Total  contributions >!l7:<,  7(t'.i  (M)  >i:U2,»vr.i  (Hi 

Contributions  for  diocesan  missions,  includiiij^ 

pastoral  aid,  per  treasurer's  report l,r,71   7h  l(i,2<»«r);j 

Superannuated  clergy COl   kJ  2.  I'i'i  (Ml 

"  These  figures  speak  for  themselves.  The  most  mark.'.!  incrras.-  in  ili.- 
above  table  is  in  the  contributions  for  diocesan  missions.  Tliis  was  n  causi- 
that  lay  very  near  the  good  Hishop's  heart ;  and  the  growth  of  these  contri- 
butions, which  was  mainly  due  to  his  earnest  advocacy,  was  i)robably  the 
chief  factor  in  the  improved  condition  of  the  diocese  in  other  respects." 

The  only  interruption  to  the  peace  and  harmony  of  the  diocese 
during  Bishop  Pinkney's  administration  grew  out  of  the  ritual- 
istic controversy.  This  had  disturbed  and  jierplexed  his  predeces- 
sor in  the  EiHscopate ;  and  it  is  not  surprising  that  it  continued 
to  cause  trouble  under  that  of  Bishop  Pinkney.  It  occasionetl.as 
we  have  seen,  much  excitement  and  great  disturbance  in  the  dio- 
cese for  several  successive  years.  8o  far  as  he  was  in  any  way 
connected  with  it,  Bishop  Pinkney's  c(mrse  was  marked  by  tinn- 
ness,  and  the  decision  of  a  man  conscious  of  right  and  resolutr  in 
duty.  Whatever  may  have  been  the  feeling  and  judgment  t)f 
some  in  regard  to  that  course,  it  must  be  confessed  tliat  he  was 
influenced  and  governed  by  his  conscientious  ctrnvictions  of  duty 
and  loyalty  to  the  Church.  He  strove,  as  far  as  he  otticially  couhl. 
to  guard  against  the  introduction  of  those  doctrinal  tcacliings  and 
ritual  observances  that  contravened  her  standards  and  the  order 
of  her  liturgic  services.  Happily  for  his  relief  and  the  ])eace  of 
the  diocese,  there  were  no  agitations  upon  these  ritualistic  mat- 
ters during  the  closing  year  of  his  Episcopate :  and  there  was  a 
disposition  in  all  quarters  to  join  harmoniously  in  the  commeiu- 
oration  of  the  centenary  organization  of  the  diocese  at  tlie  Con- 
vention held  in  Baltimore,  in  May,  1883,  just  one  montli  before 
the  Bishop's  decease. 

We  have  seen  from  the  foregoing  narrative  tliat  the  three  last 
years  were  probably  the  busiest  in  the  Bishops  life.  They  were 
at  the  same  time— for  he  had  passed  his  70th  year — years  of  a 
very  decided  failure  in  health,  with  fretiuent  i)remonitii>ns  that 
he  was  nearing  the  end  of  his  working  time.  He  was  very  con- 
scious of  this,  and  it  only  quickened  his  energy  and  zeal.  He  was 
a  very  uncomplaining  sufterer.     Sometimes  he  would  drop  words 


358  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

expressive  of  internal  physical  trouble,  and  in  bis  letters  there 
occur  occasional  references,  quite  touching  and  j^athetic,  to  his 
failing  strength  and  early  departure.  It  is  somewhat  surprising 
that  in  his  emotional  nature  and  fervid  temperament  he  should 
take  such  calm  views  of  the  closing  up  of  life's  work  in  death. 
Living  in  the  spirit  of  the  truth  and  blessedness  of  the  Gosj^el 
promises,  he  waited  patiently  and  worked  on  lovingly  till  the 
LORD  should  call  him.  The  last  sermon  that  he  2:)reached,  only 
a  few  hours  before  his  sudden  departure,  shows  how  he  loved  to 
dwell  upon  the  rewards  and  the  glories  of  the  saints  in  the  new 
Jerusalem. 

Three  years  before  his  decease  he  wrote  to  a  young  brother  in 
the  ministry,  Rev.  Charles  D.  Andrews,  rector  of  Christ  Church, 
Washington,  D.  C,  as  follows : 

"I  am  gettiug  ou  after  a  fashion.  I  wish  I  could  hear  some  one  else 
talk.  But  I  may  not  enjoy  this  rare  privilege.  GOD  bless  you,  and  give 
you  long  life  and  health  for  your  work. 

"  I  have  but  the  few  hours  of  a  fast  gathering  twilight  to  work  in.  But  I 
must  be  content.  The  twilight,  you  know,  soon  fades  away  in  the  darkness. 
A  wiser  man  will,  I  ti'ust,  be  given  to  the  diocese,  and  a  more  loving  heart 
to  the  brotherhood." 

Again,  the  next  year,  he  Avrites  to  the  same  young  friend, 
whose  health  was  temporarily  failing  : 

"  At  your  time  of  life  it  is  all  imj^ortaut  that  you  should  reciiperate.  As 
for  myself,  it  matters  not.  To  go  out  burning  is  as  well  as  any  other  way 
to  one  who  has  passed  the  threescore  and  ten.  I  go  creeping  on  as  abun- 
dant in  work,  and  with  as  much  nervous  energy  in  doing  it  as  ever." 

To  which  letter  was  added,  on  the  same  sheet,  the  following  : 

"  Rev.  C.  D.  Andrews: 

"I  do  trust  that  GOD  may  restore  you  to  perfect  health,  for  my  hopes 
are  largely  built  on  you.  Make  a  good  use  of  your  jjresent  physical  weak- 
ness. The  precious  metal  is  tried  in  the  fires.  Get  a  mastery  of  the  word 
of  GOD — that  is  the  true  knowledge.  That  is  power.  Should  anything 
occur  to  me,  it  is  my  M'ish  that  you  should  have  the  choice  of  my  library, 
and  my  watch  and  chain,  if  not  worse  than  your  own  ;  and  if  you  accept  it, 
be  carefid  its  tick  is  truer  to  you  and  more  musical  than  it  has  been  to  me. 
It  rebukes  me  to-day.  May  it  never  rebuke  you.  Keep  this  letter,  and, 
should  you  outlive  me,  show  this  letter  to  Mr.  Lowndes,  and  take  all  you 
want. 

''  Affectionatelv, 

'>W.  PINKNEY. 

"  The  balance  of  my  books  I  wish  to  go  to  the  parish  lilirary  of  St.  Luke's 
Church,  Bladensl)urg.  But  remember,  you  come  first.  There  are  some  books 
that  Mr.  Everstield  gave  to  me :  you  will  note  them  by  the  fact  that  they  do 
not  bear  my  name.  These  I  wish  to  go  to  the  parish  here.  Some  of  my 
books  are  in  my  room  in  Washington." 

He  had  but  little  else  of  earthly  goods  to  give  or  bequeath  to 
any  one.     As  his  quarterly  salary  was  received,  he  reserved  just 


LIFE    OF    15ISH01-    I'lNKNKV.  '{^U 

enougli  for  his  own  plain  ami  ('coiiDinic  supjidit,  ami  diHiu-nHod 
all  the  rest  in  acts  of  beuelicence,  chicHy  iu  hclpino-  t,,  „i!il«-  up 
deficiencies  in  the  salaries  of  the  rural  clerf,'}-. 

The  following-  paragraphs  from  a  commnnicatirni  ]>iil»lisli«-.|  in 
one  of  the  Church  journals,*  soon  aftei- the  Jiisliop's  (Icatli,  iiiidfr 
the  well-known  initials,  "J.  S.  L.  "  t  {thf  then  rector  of  St. 
John's  Chuich,  Georgetown,  D.  C),  are  here  transciibed  as  ]iapi)ily 
and  justly  illustrative  of  some  of  the  Bishop's  characteristicH  : 

"He  stood  squarely  and  firmly  upon  the  platforni  of  the  traditional 
churchmanship  of  Maryland,  and  opjjosed  d^' pa  Hares  from  that  standard, 
but  tolerated  them  as  far  as  possible.  That  his  opposition  sometimes 
became  heated  is  not  stran<i;e,  for  he  had  clear  convictions  and  strong  feel- 
ings, and  they  were  not  always  dealt  with  considerately  or  kindly  by  others. 
Doubtless  he  did  err  now  and  then,  but  his  was  the"  error  of  one  bent  on 
serving  the  Church  and  not  advancing  a  jiarty  or  himself. 

"  There  were  characteristics  of  the  man  that  should  be  remembered  and 
admired.  One  of  the  most  striking  was  his  manliness.  You  saw  it  in  liis 
look,  you  heard  it  in  his  tones,  yoii  marked  it  in  his  actions.  He  was  fonil 
of  being  with  men,  of  talking  about  what  interested  them,  of  speaking  U> 
them  when  he  preached;  he  liked  their  sjxn-ts,  if  innoi-ent,  and  encouraged 
boys  to  pxirsue  them  by  giving  his  cimntenance  to  their  games  and  hel])ing 
them  with  his  money.  He  once  show-ed  me  a  letter  from  the  secretary  of  a 
boat  club  at  a  Southern  university  asking  that  the  clul)  might  be  allnwcd  to 
take  his  name.  He  was  manifestly  pleased  by  the  comjiliment,  but  declined 
it  in  a  letter  that  the  boys  of  that  club  applauded,  I  am  sure,  when  they 
read  it.  This  quality  of  manliness  sometimes  showed  itself  in  his  courage, 
which  was  cool  and  unflinching,  whether  the  danger  that  threatened  was 
physical  or  moral.  It  gave  him  that  influence  over  men  that  made  his 
Washington  rectorship  so  rich  in  fruits  and  surrounded  his  Ei)iscopal  chair 
with  a  band  of  able,  true-hearted  men,  who  would  have  died  for  th(>ir  bishop. 
This  man  would  have  been  great  anywhere  as  a  leader  of  men — as  a  states- 
man, as  a  lawyer,  as  a  soldier.  In  learning,  in  eloquence,  iu  intellectual 
acumen,  he  was  surpassed  by  not  a  few,  perhaps ;  in  true  manliness  he  had  few- 
peers. 

"  With  this  attribute  of  character  was  allied  another  that  seems  dissimilar, 
and  yet  is  of  the  same  quality — tenderness  of  heart.  Bishop  Pinkney's  love 
for  children,  for  his  clergy,  for  his  friends,  for  the  poor  and  distressed,  was 
ever  manifesting  itself  in  forms  that  needed  no  inter])reter.  In  no  position 
was  this  tenderness  more  conspiciiously  or  l)eautifully  displayed  than  wlien 
he  suspected  himself  of  having  wrcmged  a  fellow-man,  however  slightly  ; 
then  it  twined  like  a  vine  around  his  oak-like  courage.  I  wa.s  once  in 
attendance  upon  a  meeting  of  a  small  body  of  clergymen,  at  w-liose  last  meet- 
ing the  BishoiJ  had  been  present,  and  had  made  some  chance  renuirk  that 
wounded  the  feelings  of  one  of  the  clergy,  a  man  very  unlike  the  Bishi"]) 
in  Church  views,  but  a  cultured,  clever,  kindly  gentleman.  Few  nf  us 
noticed  the  offence  given  at  the  f()iiuer  gathering,  and  we  were  surprised  to 
hear  that  a  letter  was  to  be  read  to  us  from  the  Bishoj)  in  e.\i)lanation  of  tlie 
matter.  It  was  read.  And  such  a  letter!  It  frankly  acknowledged  the 
haste  of  the  words  objected  to,  retracted  them  unqualifiedly,  begged  the 
pardon  of  the  party  offended,  and  declared  that  where  the  offence  was  given, 
there  the  writer  wished  his  apology  to  be  made.     A  junior  and  an  inferior 


*  The  Sotithsrn  Churchman. 
t  Kev.  Dr.  J.  S.  Lindsay. 


360'  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

could  not  have  been  more  affectionate,  more  frank,  more  considerate,  and 
more  humble.  The  genial,  warm-hearted  man  who  was  the  other  party  to 
this  affair  made  this  comment,  exhibiting  the  deepest  emotion  in  voice  and 
manner  :  '  The  words,  the  opinions,  or  the  actions  of  the  writer  of  that  letter 
may  sometimes  be  wrong,  l)ut  it  is  imjjossible  for  the  man  himself  ever  to 
be  anything  but  right.' 

"  The  Bishop's  generosity  was  as  well  known  to  his  friends  as  any  other 
quality  of  his  chai'acter.  He  had  a  good  income,  and  he  sjient  it  all,  but  he 
lived  most  simply,  and  gave  to  others  the  most  that  he  received.  Presents 
delicately  made  to  friends  in  need,  gifts  of  beaiity  to  those  with  whom  he 
was  thrown  in  social  relations,  contributions  in  various  forms  to  schools  and 
colleges,  large,  liberal,  regular  offerings  to  general  charities,  and  to  the 
Church  of  GOD.  He  often  put  down  his  subscription  with  that  of  the  man 
of  large  fortune ;  they  were  parallel  and  equal.  All  this  was  quietly  done, 
but  so  constant  and  so  broad  and  deep  and  full  was  the  stream  of  his  charity 
that  it  could  not  be  concealed.  Ah  !  fi-om  how  many  a  bare  rectory  in  this 
diocese  does  the  praise  of  the  good  Bishop's  generosity  ascend.  I  once  heard 
a  friend  expostulate  with  him  for  his  too  lavish  expenditures  for  others.  He 
replied :  '  I  do  this  not  from  transient  impulse,  but  on  principle  and  by 
policy.  I  discovered  in  early  life  that  selfishness  was  one  of  my  besetting 
sins,  and  I  resolved  to  conquer  it.  This  is  my  way  of  executing  that  resolu- 
tion.' 

"  Much  more  might  be  written  even  in  a  newspaper  sketch  of  the  Bishop. 
But  I  will  mention  but  one  more  of  his  traits,  that  any  acquaintance  must 
have  noticed — his  industry.  He  studied  early  in  the  morning  and  late  at 
night :  he  wrote  almost  innumerable  letters :  he  was  seemingly  a  ceaseless 
traveller  in  his  ei^iscopal  duties,  and  he  was  always  ready  to  i^reach.  His 
work  was  simply  enormous.  Three  sermons  on  Sunday  were  not  an  unusual 
task  for  him,  with  other  arduous  incidental  duties,  and  on  week-days  his 
labors  were  only  a  little  less. 

"  If,  by  accident,  he  had  an  unoccuiiied  Sunday,  he  would  offer  to  preach 
for  some  overworked  clergyman,  and  would  preach. 

"  I  have  known  him  to  write  three  sermons  in  one  week  while  taking  his 
brief  summer  vacation  at  a  watering-place.  If  he  was  reminded  of  his  need 
of  rest,  he  would  playfully  say,  '  Better  wear  out  than  rust  out.' 

"  One  of  his  most  intimate  friends  has  said,  '  He  may  have  died  of  work, 
but  he  would  have  died  sooner  if  he  had  given  up  work.'  How  fitting  his 
end  I  He  died  in  the  harness,  as  he  would  have  wished,  preaching  on  the 
night  before  his  death.  Literally,  '  he  ceased  at  once  to  work  and  live.'  The 
weary  worker  enjoys  the  rest  in  Paradise  that  he  denied  himself  on  earth. 
'  His  works  do  follow  him.' 

"J.  S.  L." 

The  paper  following,  unsolicited  and  volunteered,  came  to  the 
writer  from  'the  reverend  rector  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  Baltimore  ; 
and  it  is  here  inserted  because  it  shows  how  a  character  like 
Bishop  Pinkney's,  and  an  administration  such  as  marked  his  Epis- 
copate, could  command  the  confidence  and  secure  the  heartiest 
commendations  of  those  who  might  not  fully  harmonize  with  his 
stricter  views  of  Church  organization  and  polity.  Bishop  Pinkney 
loved  the  Church  because  he  believed  that  her  whole  system  of 
doctiinal  teaching,  sacramental  ordinances,  liturgic  service,  and 
ministerial  organization,  as  contained  in  the  prayer  book,  was 
thoroughly  Scrij^tural  and  in  conformity  with  what  was  taught 
and  held  in  the  Church  of  the  Apostolic  and  primitive  age.     He 


LIFE    OF    Itlsilol'    I'lNKNKV.  :U\] 

well  knew  that  there  were,  ami  hiul  hIwuvs  hccn,  vuivin^'  vwwh 
as  to  the  relative  importance  and  promiiicnc*'  ti)  Ix-  altm-lu-<l  to 
parts  iu  that  complex  system  of  Chiircli  dnctrines  and  ccclcKias- 
tical  order.  There  was  nothinj,',  liowcvcr,  in  his  clinrchnianship 
that  precluded  him  from  hearty  sympathy  with  all  «'anicHt  work 
ers  in  the  communion  of  the  Church.  Stron-^dy  as  he  coiKh-iuiicd 
the  ritual  teachings  and  practices,  he  could  yet  appicciutc  the 
motives  and  zeal  of  those  Avho,  as  he  hclicved,  were  erriiiglv  and 
hurtfully  brinoing  discord  into  the  Church  in  her  great  work  of 
})reaching  the  Gospel  and  bringing  souls  into  blessed  union  with 
CHRIST.  And  if  he  seemed  specially  drawn  towards  tluise 
whose  strong  evangelic  principles  led  them  to  take  less  stringent 
views  than  his  own,  in  regard  to  the  ordinances  of  tlie  Church 
and  the  order  of  the  divine  services,  it  was  because  he  felt  the 
I^re-eminent  importance  of  the  jilainest  and  most  urgent  presen- 
tation of  the  great  essential  truths  and  duties  of  the  Gospel.  In 
his  Catholic  sjDirit  and  broad  sympathies  he  could  compreheml 
and  feel  the  j^ower  of  love  and  the  need  of  closer  union  among 
Christians,  both  spiritual  and  organic,  for  the  one  essential  fuith 
of  the  Gospel  and  tlie  fultilmeiit  by  the  Church  of  ln'r  di\ine 
commission  for  the  conversion  of  the  world. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  J.  E.  Grammer's  pajjer  is  as  follows : 

•'  Bishop  PiNKNEY  was  well  known  to  me  in  the  early  years  of  my  miiiiHtry 
in  Washington,  my  native  eity.  His  bearim,',  as  a  minister  nf  t!HUIST  ami 
a  zealous  clergyman  of  the  Chiireh,  always  imj)ress('(l  me  so  as  to  win  my 
respect  and  contidence.  As  the  rector  of  the  Church  of  the  .\scensinn.  Iiy  liix 
success  iu  reviving  that  church,  and  in  gathering  around  him  a  hand  of  i-ar- 
nest  workers,  he  became  prominent  among  the  clergy  of  Maryland.  His 
manners  were  genial  and  attractive,  ami  his  social  gifts  contrilmted  largely 
to  his  pastoral  efficiency.  His  ministry  among  the  poor,  as  well  as  those  of 
high  degree,  was  distinguished  for  its  sympathetic  sincerity.  Enjoying  the 
advantage  of  a  name  whose  prestige  was  a  ])assport  to  any  society,  he  was 
noticeably  a  man  of  unambitious  mien  and  unaffected  simidicity  of  sjiirit. 
The  clergy  honored  him  with  their  <'ontidence  in  his  wise  and  eaiitious  eon- 
servatism  by  electing  him  to  the  Standing  Committee  and  to  the  (Jeneral 
Convention,  in  which  responsible  jjositions  he  long  served  the  diocese.  He 
was  distinguished  for  practical  and  jdiilanthropic  enteri)rise,  in  efforts  to 
relieve  the  orphan,  and  the  lonely  an<l  alfiicted.  His  pulpit  gave  uo  uncer- 
tain sound,  and  he  was  a  faithful  dispenser  of  the  word,  and  a  minister  of 
mercy  to  the  distressed;  with  a  decided  lovt>  for  iiis  Church,  lie  was  not  so 
blinded  by  prejudice  as  not  to  recognize  tlie  claim  U]»cin  his  fordiai  respect 
and  reverence  of  all  who  honored  and  magnitied  CHRIST.  His  love  for  tlie 
highest  exhibition  of  ehxpuMice  and  learning  often  led  him  to  the  Semite  and 
the  Supreme  Court  to  stiuly  the  best  models  of  the  great  art  of  convincing  and 
persuasive  speaking.  The  fame  and  name  of  his  renowned  relative  luwu- 
ciated  him  with  those  gifts  which  are  the  most  to  be  coveted  by  a  minister 
of  CHRIST,  next  to  the  endowment  of  the  Holy  Cihost. 

"  He  was  valiant  in  his  defence  of  the  truth,  and  zealous  of  the  order  ami 
worship  of  his  Church.  When  clothed  with  the  office  of  a  Rishop.  he  united 
decision  with  gentleuess,  and  was  everywhere  loved  and  admired  for  his 
qualities  of  heart,  as  well  as  the  rich  furniture  of  his  mind.  His  Episcopate 
was  of  brief  duration,  compared  with  that  of  his  imm.-diate  predecetwor. 


362  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

but  it  was  '  rich  in  good  works,'  and  exercised  a  most  wholesome  restraint 
upon  tendencies  to  false  theories  of  religion  and  of  its  institutional  forms. 
A  lover  of  books,  a  man  of  poetic  taste,  and,  above  all,  in  accord  with  the 
beautiful  and  pure  and  true  in  nature  and  in  art,  he  drew  to  himself  many 
fi'iends,  and  won  to  the  Chiirch  loyal  sous  and  servants  in  her  benevolent 
ministries.  His  generosity  e.xceeded  the  capacity  of  his  purse,  and  his  sym- 
pathies were  identified  with  the  whole  work  of  the  Church.  Especially  will 
his  warm  intei-est  in  the  Virginia  Theological  Seminary  be  long  remembered, 
as  he  encouraged  the  postulants  of  his  diocese  to  seek  the  advantages  of 
that  sacred  school  of  the  prophets,  which  has  been  a  nursing  mother  to  many 
a  missionary  and  herald  of  the  Cross  at  home  and  abroad.  In  this  connec- 
tion he  will  be  associated  with  Meade  and  Johns  and  Heushaw,  and  the 
distinguished  layman,  Francis  Key. 

"  There  have  been  other  Bishops  in  Maryland  eminent  for  learning,  elo- 
quence, and  administrative  gifts,  but  the  name  of  William  Pinkney  will  be 
second  to  none  for  those  equalities  which  lead  men  in  loyal  and  loving  devo- 
tion to  each  other  as  having  a  common  cause,  one  Master,  one  faith,  and  one 
sjiirit.  Full  of  labors,  he  sank  to  rest,  just  after  deiDicting  the  blessedness 
of  the  departed  in  CHRIST.  Over  his  grave  the  munificent  fi'iendship  of 
his  devoted  parishioners  has  placed  a  statue,  whose  solid  and  pure  marble  is 
the  fit  symbol  of  his  strong  and  unstained  character. 

"  As  the  generations  of  the  sons  of  Maryland  shall  from  time  to  time  visit 
his  grave,  they  will  pause  with  reverent  step  and  uncovered  brow  to  recall 
the  testimony  of  the  unfailing  word,  that  '  the  righteous  shall  be  held  in 
everlasting  remembrance.' " 


A  PP  KN  I)  I  \ 


The  coiTespondeiu-e  here  given,  referred  to  in  tlie  text.  l)#'tweeu 
Dr.  Pinkney  and  Bishop  AVhittingliani,  during  the  wiir.  in  the 
years  1862  and  18()8,  is  phiced  in  this  A}>pen(hx,  not  to  revive  any 
old  feeHngs  or  issues,  ecclesiastical,  of  that  ])ainful  period,  ('oii- 
trary  to  his  usual  custom.  Dr.  Pinkney  carefully  copied,  luhelled, 
and  filed  the  letters  of  this  correspondence,  as  th<iugh  he  thought 
there  might  be  future  occasion  to  publish  it  for  his  own  vindica- 
tion in  the  matters  of  dispute  or  cont)(>versy  between  himself  and 
the  Bishop  touching  the  rights  of  the  Presbyterate  and  tin-  pre- 
rogatives of  the  Episcopate.  Happily,  the  strained  relations 
between  himself  and  his  Diocesan  jjassed  away,  and  when  Dr. 
Pinkney  became  the  Assistant  Bisho])  of  the  Diocese  the  intt-r- 
course  between  himself  and  the  Senior  Bishop  was  of  the  most 
cordial  character.  Actuated  by  one  spirit  of  accord  and  dev(»tion 
to  duty,  they  gave  themselves  unitedly  and  heartily  to  the  great 
work  of  the  Episcopate. 

Blfihnp   WhittingJmm  to  the  lieverend   William  Pinkuij/.   1).    I).,   Itn-t.'V  ••j' 
Ascension  Parinh,  Wfixfiinffton,  I).  ( '. 

Reverend  and  Dear  Brother:  In  accordance  with  S.  XIV,  ('iiiinn  \'.\, 
Title  I,  of  the  Digest,  I  tran.smit  to  yon  the  enchised  prayer  fur  nse  in  your 
parish  on  all  occasions  of  pnljlic  worship,  within  eij^ht  days  foUowin^j  the 
Sunday  after  yoiir  receipt  of  this  letter. 

And  ain,  faithfnllv  anil  aflcctionatelv.  v<mr  friend  and  hrotlnT. 
WILLIAM  llOLLIXSOX  WHITTINOHAM. 

Iiixhop  of  Marylanrl. 
Baltimore,  March  Xoth,  1862. 

A  Prayer  of  Thankngiciufj  for  Late  ViHoriex. 

O  Almighty  God,  the  Sovereign  Ccnnmander  of  all  the  world,  in  whose 
hand  is  power  and  might,  which  none  is  ahle  to  withstand:  we  liless  and 
magnify  Thy  great  and  glorious  Name  for  the  happy  successes  which  Thou 
hast  of  "late  vouchsafed  in  so  many  instances  to  the  arms  of  this  nation,  ami 
more  especially  for  the  deliverance  of  this  city  and  District  from  tin-  terrors 
of  blockade  and  siege.  And  we  beseech  Thee,  give  to  us  and  to  all  this 
people  grace  to  use  this  great  mercy  shown  toward  us  to  Thy  glory,  the 
advancement  of  Thy  Gospel,  the  honour  of  our  country,  an<l.  as  nnicli  a.s  in 
ns  lioth,  the  good  of  all  mankind.  Stir  up  our  hearts,  ()  Lonl,  to  a  true 
thankfulness,  such  as  may  api)ear  in  our  lives  by  a  humble,  holy,  und 
obedient  walking  before  Thee  all  our  days;  through  Jesus  Christ,  our  \^>u\, 
to  whom,  with  Thee,  O  Father,  and  Thee,  O  Holy  (Jhost,  as  for  all  Thy 
mercies,  so  in  particular  for  these  victories  and  this  deliverance,  be  all  glory 
and  honour,  world  without  end.     Amen. 

nc.;t 


364  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

Bishop  Mliittinghnm  to  J.  Louis  Cluhh.  Esq.,  Register  of  Ascension  Parish, 
Washington,  D.   C 

Deak  Sir  :  I  beg  leave  to  acknowledge  the  receipt,  this  morning,  of  your 
note,  bearing  date  of  the  6th,  and  enclosing  a  copy  of  a  document  extracted 
from  the  Journal  of  the  Vestry  of  Ascension  Parish,  and  {purporting  to  be  a 
protest  against  certain  procedures  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States 
of  America. 

That  document  bearing  date  of  the  Ifith  of  June  last,  its  transmission  to 
me  at  this  time,  is,  in  my  apprehension,  unnecessary  and  inconsequential. 

I  shall,  therefore,  not  trouble  the  rector  and  vestry  with  any  opinion 
concerning  the  contents  of  the  document  transuiitted",  except  on  a  single 
point,  in  which  my  own  official  relations  with  that  body  appear  to  be  con- 
cerned. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  paper  I  find  the  following  sentence  : 

"  Our  worship  has  been  conducted  in  all  respects  according  to  the  usages 
and  rubrics  of  the  Church  and  the  canons  by  her  enacted.  Ignoring  every 
other  thing,  we  have  kept  it  free  from  political  taint." 

If  I  am  to  understand  this  language  in  its  natural,  obvious  meaning,  I  shall 
have  to  rejoice  in  its  explicit  contradiction  of  an  unhappy  rumour,  largely 
circulated  in  the  public  prints,  to  the  effect  that  my  canonical  provision  and 
prescription  of  a  form  of  prayer  for  use  in  public  worship  had  been  wilfully 
and  flagrantly  disregarded  by  the  rector  of  Ascension  Parish,  in  violation 
of  his  ordination  vows  and  canonical  obligations,  and  that  in  so  doing  he 
had  been  sustained  by  the  vote  of  the  vestry  of  the  parish. 

If  such  had  been  the  case,  it  would  have  been  with  an  ill  grace  that  the 
rector  and  vestry  of  Ascension  Parish  appealed  to  the  consecration  of  their 
Church  as  a  ground  of  immunity  from  application  to  purposes  of  govern- 
mental use  in  relieving  the  sick  and  suffering,  when  they  themselves  would 
have  been  the  first  to  violate  the  solemn  pact  by  which  the  building  had 
been  set  apart  to  the  worship  of  God  according  to  ihe  laws  and  usages  of  the 
Church,  and  to  desecrate  it  in  the  worst  of  ways  by  making  it  a  public  and 
notorious  visible  symbol  of  rebellious  proclivities,  seditiously  manifesting 
■disloyalty  to  the  power  ordained  of  God,  in  the  refusal  to  render  that  power 
a  service  expressly  prescribed  by  His  Holy  Word. 

As  the  rector  and  vestry  of  Ascension  Parish  do  not  ajjpear  to  have  had 
any  call  to  introduce  the  mention  of  the  usages,  rubrics,  and  canons  of  the 
Church,  and  the  disclaimer  of  political  taint,  beside  the  purpose  of  refuting 
prevalent  rumours  to  the  contrary,  I  am  bound,  construing  their  actions  in 
courtesy  and  good  faith,  to  accept  it  as  their  denial  of  those  rumours,  of  the 
truth  of  which  no  evidence  has  ever  been  laid  before  me,  to  require  investi- 
gation by  judicial  process. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

WILLIAM  KOLLINSON  WHITTINGHAM, 

Bishop  of  Maryland. 

Baltimoee,  August  8th,  18G2. 


Bev.  Br.  Pinkney  to  Bishop  Whittingham. 

August  18th,  1862. 
Right  Rev.  Sir  :  I  regret  the  necessity  which  is  imposed  upon  me  of  re- 
plying to  the  letter  you  addressed  to  the  register  of  Ascension  Parish,  dated 
August  8th,  for  it  seems  t(j  me  well-nigh  impossible  to  answer  it  fully  and 
without  reserve,  without  pursuing  a  line  of  argument  that  a  presbyter  would 
gladly  avoid  in  correspondence  with  a  bishop  of  the  Church.  But  you  have 
left  me  no  alternative. 


APPENDIX.  305 

The  transmissiou  of  a  respectful  inotest  (a  mere  fact  in  tlic  history  of  r«.. 
cent  transactions  in  the  parish),  not  for  your  criticism  or  o]tiiiioii,  l.iit  ^..l-lv 

for  the  purpose  of  informinji  you  of  what  lia<l  transjtireil.  is  made  l)i , 

sion  of  an  exhibiticm  of  feeling,'  which  the  occasion  did  not  call  for.  I  ii. 
portion  of  the  protest  whicii  is  made  the  ostensible  v;ruund<if  your  Ktrictur«-H 
was  contained  substantially  in  my  letter  to  the  ])rov..st  marshal  and  com- 
municated to  you  months  a^co.  It  does  not  seem  to  have  ])roduced  on  v<>nr 
mind  nt  that  time  the  impression  which  you  now  regard  as  "  its  nalural,  ob. 
vioiis  meauinj,'."  It  was  introduced  into  the  protest  for  the  same  reason  that 
induced  me  to  insert  it  into  my  letter  to  the  jn-ovost  nuirshal,  viz.,  to  inf-.rm 
those  who  may  come  after  me  that  my  mode  of  crmductin^  the  services  had 
been  in  accordance  with  the  rubrics  and  canons,  and  it  is  surprisiuj^  to  me 
that  human  ingeiuiity  ct)uld  iuvi-nt  any  other. 

Aft  erdesitj;natin,i^  the  rumor  which  youstate  was  larj,'ely  circulated  in  no  very 
measured  terms,  you  i^u  on  to  say  that  you  are  bound  in  courtesy  and  ^ond 
faith  to  accept  our  language  as  a  denial  t)f  those  rumors:  and  yet  you  taunt 
us  with  the  ill-grace  (if  I  may  be  excused  for  using  your  language)  of  »j). 
pealing  to  the  consecration  of  our  church  as  a  ground  of  immunity  from  ap- 
plication to  purposes  of  governmental  use,  in  case  we  had  been  guilty  of  the 
deed  charged.  If  you  really  regarded  the  passage  y<ju  cite  as  a  denial  of 
the  truth  of  the  rumor,  it  is  difficult  to  understand  ir}ii/ yim  indulged  in  that 
bitter  strain,  which  bears  so  strongly  marked  on  its  face  an  air  of  irony. 
What  I  did  as  a  presljyter  of  tin.'  Church  on  the  occasion  referred  to  I  never 
sought  to  conceal.  It  was  done  jjublicly  and  inthe  l)r<iad  face  of  day.  It 
was  done  advisedly.  It  was  made  know-n  by  me  to  the  members  of  the 
Standing  Committee  unoflBcially,  and  I  never  doubted  for  a  moment  that  you 
were  fully  apprised  of  it.  It  was  charged  upon  me  by  the  public  jirints  in 
almost  every  part  of  the  country,  and  in  terms  distressingly  like  those  em- 
ployed by  yourself,  and  was  never  deniedhy  me.  What  you  call  your  canon- 
ical prescription  I  did  not  consider  canonical. 

You  cited  the  law  on  which  you  rested  your  authority  and  my  obedience. 
I  examined  the  law,  and  satisfied  myself  that  it  authorized  no  smdi  act :  and 
in  this  1  took  time  for  consultation — time  which  your  telegram  would  not 
have  allowed  me  had  it  not  been  providentially  ordered  that  it  should  fail  of 
its  lightning  speed.  I  consulted,  in  Baltimore  and  Washington,  gentlemen 
learned  in  the  law,  and  they  fully  sustained  me  in  my  interpretation  of  the 
canon.  One  of  the  ablest  canonists  in  the  diocese,  a  strong  su])i)orter  of  the 
Government,  wrote  to  me,  without  consultation  on  my  part,  in  thorough 
su^jport  of  the  view  I  took  of  the  siibiect,  and,  singular  to  state,  based  his 
constriiction,  totideni  vei'/jix.  on  the  very  same  grounds. 

With  this  array  of  authority,  and  an  honest  conviction  of  the  correctness 
of  my  construction  of  the  law,  I  determined  on  my  course,  and  omitted  the 
prayer,  and  I  resi:)ectfully  suggest  that  my  failure  to  use  it  was  not  the  wilful 
and  flagrant  violation  of  my  ordination  vows  and  c-anonical  obligations,  nor 
"  the  public  and  notorious  visilile  symbol  of  rebellious  ))roclivities,  sedi- 
tiously manifesting  disloyalty  to  the  powers  ordained  of  God,"  unless,  in- 
deed, it  be  assiimed  that  your  judgment  of  the  law  is  law,  and  that  l)ishops 
have  only  to  ordain  and  presbyters  only  to  obey.  My  obedience  was 
pledged  to  the  bishop  in  reference  to  acts  based  on  the  canon  law  just  in  so 
far  as  those  acts  are  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of  the  canon,  and  no  far- 
ther. You  did  not  predicate  your  order  upon  your  Godly  admonitions,  and 
for  the  best  of  all  reasons,  because  you  knew  that  your  power  to  ])repareand 
transmit  a  prayer  was  derived  solely  from  the  canon.  If  it  be  argueil  that 
my  refusal  to  use  the  prayer  carried  with  it  the  resjionsibility  of  a  present- 
ment for  trial,  none  knew'  it  better  than  myself  and  none  were  more  willing 
to  meet  it.  That  I  omitted  the  prayer  was  known  to  the  diocese  and  the 
country. 

The 'late  convention  knew  it  perfectly  well.     If  you  were  in  doubt,  you 


366  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

had  nothing  to  do  biat  to  make  the  inquh-y  of  me  personally,  which  was  no 
novel  mode  of  procedure,  or  else  arraign  me  under  the  canon  whose  repeal 
you  so  strenuously  opposed  in  May  last. 

I  repel  the  charge  that  the  rumor  subjected  me  to  any  such  offensive  de- 
nunciation, as  you  by  innuendo  employ  in  the  description  of  my  sujjposed 
act. 

The  rumor  irax  that  I  omitted  the  'prayer.  All  else  was  the  constructive 
treason  to  the  Church  and  State,  which  was  assumed  as  proved,  and  imputed 
to  me  by  those  who  were  as  little  versed  in  the  canons  as  they  were  in  the 
gentle  courtesies  of  the  Gospel.  I  claim  to  have  acted  according  to  the  law. 
I  believed  that  the  course  I  pursued  was  in  all  respects  right  and  proper. 
I  believe  so  still.  If  I  erred  in  my  construction  of  the  canon,  or  indulged  a 
baseless  dream  of  the  imagination  in  supposing  that  I  had  a  right,  when  a 
law  was  presented  to  me  as  the  basis  of  an  act  which  I  was  required  to  do, 
to  look  into  it  and  examine  it  for  myself,  it  was  my  misfortune,  and  mine 
was  the  responsibility.  But  where  in  such  a  case  is  the  wilfulness  and  fia- 
grancy  of  the  act  ?  I  take  final  leave  of  this  corresijondence  thus  painfully 
forced  upon  me.  I  have  never  written  against  a  bishop  hut  to  his  face,  and 
not  even  then  until  I  have  been  wrongfully  assailed.  I  would  now  gladly 
hold  my  peace  if  I  could.  But  I  cannot  permit  such  language  as  you  use.  in 
writing  to  my  vestry  concerning  an  act  of  mine,  which  I  believe  to  be  canon- 
ical and  proper,  even  by  innuendo,  to  pass  without  an  unequivocal  protesta- 
tion of  my  innocence,  and  the  denial  of  the  justness  of  the  charge.  To  arraign 
me  before  my  peers  is  your  prerogative.  But  to  speak  of  me  or  any  rumored 
act  of  mine,  even  by  innuendo,  in  such  language  as  yovi  employ  to  my  vestry, 
without  confronting  me  with  my  peers,  is  outside  of  your  prerogative.  Your 
letter  will  be  j^laced  on  the  parish  record.  Mine  by  a  vote  of  the  vestry  will 
be  jDlaced  alongside  of  it.  I  cheerfully  abide  the  judgment  that  will  be  passed 
upon  it.  I  am  fullj'  conscious  of  my  many  infirmities,  but  the  wilful  and 
flagrant  violation  of  my  ordination  vows  and  the  desecration  of  the  house  of 
God  in  the  worst  of  ways  is  nor,  one  of  them. 

I  deeply  regret  that  a  bishop,  whom  I  have  always  obeyed  in  all  his  law- 
fi;l  commands,  whose  wishes  I  have  always  consulted,  and  to  whom  I  have 
never  been  wanting  in  Christian  courtesy,  should  think  himself  justified  in 
si;pposing  me  capable  of  denying  by  indirection  a  deed  I  never  directly  dis- 
owned; or  that,  assuming  to  himself  the  right  to  construe  canons  at  his  pleas- 
ure, he  should  deny  me  the  privilege  of  an  honest  difference  of  opinion, 
while  he  charges  without  trial  as  a  crime  that  which  I  hold  to  be  just  and 
right. 

One  word  upon  the  delaj'  in  the  transmission  of  the  protest,  which  has 
already  been  sufficiently  explained.  The  delay  was  not  material,  as  the  pro- 
test was  not  intended  for  the  Government.  They  were  too  speedy  in  their 
action  for  it  to  be  of  any  avail.  The  church  building  was  seized  without 
notice,  and  I  did  not  hear  of  it  iintil  late  on  Saturday  night,  and  on  Sunday 
morning  I  found  a  number  of  carpenters  at  work  within  its  consecrated  walls 
transforming  it  into  a  permanent  hospital.  Our  jjrotest,  a  vain  and  useless 
act,  so  far  as  the  Government  was  concerned,  was  intended  for  the  Christian 
world,  to  be  the  after-witness  to  the  fact  that  we  had  not  assented  to  the 
desecration  ;  and  it  surprises  me  to  hear  a  bishop  of  the  Church  declare  that 
the  transmission  of  that  fact  to  him  is  deemed  by  him  to  be  unmeaning  and 
inconsequential. 

Yours  respectfully, 

WILLIAM  PINKNEY. 

Eight  Kev.  W.  K.  Whittixgh.\m,  D.  D.,  LL.  D., 

Baltimore,  Maryland. 


AiM'KNDix.  :{(;? 

Bixliop    Whittingham   to   Rererfiul    WitUmn    I'inkiny,  I).  />..  l{,ft„r  of  tl,r 
Parixh  of  the  AKCeu-siou,   Wnxhiiujtoi,  Citj/,  J)Mrkt  of  Coliimfua.  ' 

Reverend  and  Deau  Siu  :  It  is  no  doulit  a  jvist  suhject  of  oomtuoii  rt-gri't 

that  such  coirospondcncf  as  ours  shouM  In-  ncccssiiry.  It  i»,  thiTofon*.  tht> 
more  j,'ratifyin^  to  inc  that  it  is  not  of  my  orij,'iiiatioii. 

After  the  transmission  of  my  canonical  communication  uf  thi-  I'lth  of 
March,  which  went  to  the  rector  of  Ascension  Parish,  in  common  with  every 
other  chn\tj;yman  ofWciating  in  the  District  of  I'ohimliia,  l>y  onlimiry  courne 
of  mail  (the  transmission  only  l)eiug  notified  by  telef^raph;,  I  nuidi'  no  in- 
quiry aliout  its  reception  or  the  course  of  action  of  those  to  whom  it  hud 
been  sent. 

I  saw,  with  sorrow,  statements  in  the  public  prints  seriously  coniprnniiHin^; 
the  character  of  some  of  my  brethren,  but  deemed  that  no  sufficient  call  to 
institute  otticial  investii^aticms. 

My  attention  was  first  directed  to  Ascension  Parish  by  a  communication 
from  the  parish  itself,  occasioned  by  an  act  in  which  I  had  no  jiarticipatioii, 
and  made  when  any  interference  of  mine,  if  it  had  l)een  desired,  must  have 
been  useless  on  account  of  the  lapse  of  time. 

As  it  was  plain  that  the  reason  of  this  direction  of  my  attention  to  the 
affairs  of  the  parish  could  not  be  the  desire  of  official  interposition.  I  wum 
forced  to  infer  the  wish  to  bring  to  my  notice  the  antagonism  bi-twrcn  the 
a\ithorities  of  the  parish  and  those  of  the  Ignited  States  (lovernment.  1 
therefore,  in  reply,  intimated  the  possibility  of  an  occasion  given  for  the 
action  complained  of  Ijy  the  parish  authorities,  and,  by  assigning  as  a  rea.sou 
for  expressing  no  judgment  on  the  subject  my  want  of  authentic  informu- 
tion,  challenged  its  communication.  This  left  it  with  the  vestry  of  Ascen- 
sion Parish  to  open  or  avoid  investigation.  To  do  at  least  that  mm-h  wii-s 
made  incumbent  on  me  by  a  clause  in  one  of  the  documents  laid  liefon-  me. 
which,  while  I  thought  it  either  inaccurate  in  expression  or  else  suscei)tible 
of  an  unfavorable  construction,  as  evasive,  could  not  be  understood  other- 
wise than  as  alluding  to  public  reports  concerning  a  difference  between  the 
course  in  Ascension  Parish  and  that  in  some  other  i)arishes  in  the  District 
on  an  occasion  then  recent. 

"  The  services  of  the  church,"  the  rector  told  the  provost  marshal,  •'  have 
heretofore  proceeded  in  the  manner  ai)pointed  by  the  canons  of  tlie  diocese." 
It  was  publicly  bruited  throughout  the  country  that  on  the  two  Sundays 
next  before  the  day  when  that  sentence  was  written  the  services  in  .\scension 
Church  had  not  i^roceeded  in  the  manner  })rescribed  by  the  bishoj)  of  the 
diocese.  The  sentence,  therefore,  might  either  mean  that  the  jmblic  rumour 
was  (as  such  things  often  are)  unfounded,  or  else  that  in  disregarding  the 
prescription  of  the  bishop  there  had  been  no  violation  of  the  canons  of  the 
diocese. 

Now  the  last  assertion,  although  true  in  the  letter,  would  have  been  a 
mere  evasive  subterfuge,  as  addressed  to  an  otHcer  of  the  United  States.  l)e- 
cause  the  bishop's  action  had  been  based  upon  the  canons,  not  of  the  di<)- 
cese,  but  of  the  digest  of  the  laws  of  the  Church  in  the  ITnited  States. 

It  was  due  to  the  writer  to  discard  .such  iuterpretati<m  of  his  meaning  and 
to  accept  his  language,  although  inaccurate,  as  intended  to  signify  an  ad- 
herence to  all  the  laws  and  regulations  V)y  which  members  of  tin-  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  are  bound.  Then  it  was  left  me  only  to  take  the  mean- 
ing to  be  exculpatory  of  the  parish  in  the  sense  of  contradiction  of  the  pub- 
lic riimours. 

I  was  not  to  suppose  that  the  rector  of  the  parish  could,  without  any  i)re- 
vious  communication  of  objection  or  remonstrance  to  the  bishoj)  himself. 
arraign  his  bishop  before  a  military  officer  as  a  violator  of  the  law  of  the 
Church  ;  still  less  that  the  vestrv  of  the  parish  could,  after  like  sdence  on 
their  part,  adopt  the  arraignment  and.  without  call  for  such  i-rocedure,  gra- 


368  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

tuitously  thrust  it  upon  the  notice  of  the  bishop.  Refusing  such  construc- 
tion of  their  course,  it  remained  to  nie  only,  by  intimation  of  possible  occa- 
sion for  the  action  of  the  United  States  authorities  complained  of  by  the 
vestry  and  of  want  on  my  part  of  authentic  information  conceiming  such 
occasion,  to  afford  the  vestry  an  opportimity  of  complaint,  if  they  had  any, 
against  my  own  former  action,  their  resistance  to  which,  it  was  publicly 
rumoured,  had  drawn  to  them  the  attention  of  the  provost  marshal.  I  did 
so,  and  I  did  nothing  more.  The  vestry  did  not  see  fit  to  offer  any  explana- 
tion, and  no  information  affecting  the  Parish  of  the  Ascension  was  laid  be- 
fore me  from  any  other  quarter  having  claims  on  my  official  notice.  After 
the  lapse  of  more  than  three  months,  in  which  no  communication  had  been 
made  to  me  by  or  concerning  the  rector  or  vestry  of  Ascension  Parish,  and 
nothing  had  been  done  by  me  in  any  way  concerning  either,  I  received  a 
formal  communication  from  the  vestry  directing  my  attention  to  action  taken 
by  it  nearly  three  months  before.  I  there  find  a  reiteration  of  the  preten- 
sion which  had  attracted  my  notice  in  the  earlier  correspondence  sent  for 
my  insj)ection,  but  in  a  very  different  form.  Instead  of  merely  claiming  that 
"  the  services  of  the  church  had  heretofore  proceeded  in  the  manner  ap- 
pointed by  the  canons  of  the  diocese,"  the  vestry  now  called  my  attention 
to  an  assertion  that  their  "  worship  had  been  conducted  in  all  respects  ac- 
cording to  the  usages  and  rubrics  of  the  Church  and  the  canons  by  her  en- 
acted," and  that,  "ignoring  every  other  thing,"  "they  had  kept  it"  (the 
church  Iniilding)  "free  from  political  taint." 

The  pul)licly  rumoured  charge  against  the  rector  and  vestry  of  Ascension 
Parish  had  been  that  they  had  defiled  their  church  with  the  "  taint "  of 
seditious  proclivities,  by  making  its  worship  on  two  successive  Sundays  an 
open  declaration  of  dissent  from  the  prevalent  thankfulness  for  recent  bless- 
ings on  the  arms  of  the  United  States  in  war  waged  against  rebellion. 

The  thankfulness,  from  which  they  were  thus  charged  with  dissenting,  had 
found  expression  in  an  official  provision,  put  forth  in  alleged  conformity  with 
expressly  cited  canonical  legislation.  Neither  rector  nor  vestry  had  ever 
given  the  bishop  any  kind  of  intimation  that  they  took  objection  to  the 
claim  of  canonical  authority  for  the  official  action  with  reference  to  which 
they  had  been  charged  with  disobedience  indicative  of  disloyalty.  Could 
he,  then,  in  his  official  capacity,  on  the  receipt  of  such  an  official  communi- 
cation, put  any  other  construction  on  the  language  of  the  vestry  than  that 
of  denial  of  the  rumours  that  had  prevailed  ?  Yet,  in  an  unofficial  way,  I 
had  heard  too  much  not  to  have  reason  to  be  cautious  lest  advantage  might 
at  some  time  hereafter  be  made  of  silent  acquiescence  in  these  claims  thus 
repeatedly,  and  for  some  set  purpose,  forced  on  my  attention.  On  the  first 
occasion  an  inaccurate  and  apparently  evasive  assertion  had  only  called  for 
expression  of  doubt  and  insutficient  information  on  my  part. 

On  the  second,  the  changed  form  of  th?  pfatement  called  for  a  distinct  ex- 
pression of  my  understanding  of  its  purport,  lest  its  acceptance  in  silence 
should  hereafter  be  alleged  as  acquiescence  in  a  very  different  meaning. 
Siich  is  the  explanation  of  what  you  object  to,  as  "  innuendo,"  "  irony,"  &c. 
You  ap])ear  to  have  forgotten  that  the  Bishop  of  Maryland,  in  dealing  with 
the  authorities  of  any  of  his  parishes,  is  limited  to  strictly  official  grounds  of 
inference  as  well  as  action. 

He  may  express  his  opinion  of  a  hypothetical  case,  when  he  has  reason  to 
fear  that  silence  would  be  construed  as  connivance ;  but  he  is  bound  to 
distinguish  between  the  facts  officially  before  him  and  such  possible  alter- 
native. 

With  regard  to  the  language  used  in  my  late  letter,  you  are  under  a  two- 
fold misapprehension. 

1.  The  epithets  "  wilful  "  and  "  flagrant  "  were  adopted  as  part  of  the  un- 
ha^jpy  rumour,  largely  circulated,  which  you  admit  did  preA'ail  in  almost 
every  part  of  the  country  in  terms  distressingly  like  those  employed  by 


APPENDIX.  309 

me.  By  rolu'iiisiii^'  thciii.  I  did  iii-t  iidc.).t  tli.-iii  ..tluTwiHo  than  a*,  .-x. 
IJi-essive  of  the  fact  thiit  smh  cnustnictiiin  liad  Imm-ii  i»m  uimn  vour  hUci^i-iI 
action. 

You  now  vohmtarily  justify  that  cnnstiuctii.ii,  alh.wanci'  ln-in^;  niadi-  f..r 
difference  of  regard  l)y  Dliscrvers  in  diaiMi-trically  ojijKisite  jiuintH  nf  virw. 

What  h)yal  news-writers  re])resented  as  ••  wilful."  yi>u  avow  as  '•  d<iii)<  ml. 
visedly,"  of  set  puri)ose  after  deliberation.  What  they  eonipluined  of  ju» 
"  flagrant,"  you  own  as  "  d(me  jmblicly  in  the  broad  face  of  day."  I  j^eatly 
prefer  your  own  characterization  of  your  action  :  but,  until  you  had  made 
it,  I  had  no  ri<^lit  to  assume  its  truthfulness  by  substitutin>.j  it*  for  the  shade 
of  another  colour  given  by  anonymous  accusers. 

Yoiir  complaint  of   my  language,  in  this  resjject.  tlier<'fore,  is  unfounded. 

2.  In  suggesting  that  your  "  failure  to  use  "  the  prescribed  jjrayer  "  was 
not"  "the  public  and  notoricnis  visible  symbol  of  rebellious  prodivitieH," 
&c.,  you  show  a  misconception  of  the  part  of  my  letter  from  which  those 
words  are  qiioted.  applying  to  your  own  action  what  I  said  in  reference  to 
the  effect  upon  the  material  building  of  the  whole  alleged  joint  action  of  tlie 
rector,  vestry,  and  congregation.  After  such  action  limited  throughout  the 
land,  a  stranger  in  Washington  w<mld  hardly  pass  through  H  stn-ct  without 
looking  upon  the  church  of  which  the  rector,  vestry,  and  congregation  would 
rather  violate  a  canon  and  piit  an  affront  upon  their  bishoj),  than  join  in 
thanksgiving  for  the  deliverance  of  the  capital  from  protracted  siege  ami 
blockade  as  a  very  telling  "  visible  symbol "  of  the  state  of  mind  which  alone 
could  be  supi^osed  to  have  proni})ted  such  procedure.  I  now.  for  the  first 
time,  learn  authentically  that  your  desecrated  church  was,  indeed,  tlnis  made 
a  monitor  of  disaffection,  at  least  in  the  construction  of  the  large  majority 
of  the  community.  It  is  of  no  avail  that  its  rector  and  vestry  should,  iu 
privately  recorded  protest,  assert  that  they  "  have  kept "  their  chundi  "  free 
from  jxilitical  tiiint." 

Their  public-  action  had  called  public  attention  to  their  place  of  worshij* 
as  the  j)lace  of  assemblage  of  those  whom  one  of  themselves,  writing  at  the 
time,  with  reference  to  this  very  suljject,  declared  to  "  symjiathize  with  tlie 
South,  and,  when  the  proper  time  arrives  (which  is  not  far  off ).  will  gravitate 
to  the  South." 

The  community  understood  what  you  now  avow  to  have  Ijcen  the  action 
of  the  authorities  of  Ascension  Parish  to  be  a  designed  indication  of  stich 
sympathy  with  a  rebellion  then  still  pressing  hard  in  open  war,  and  not 
only  iipon  the  Government  of  the  country  Cthe  one  only  power  to  which 
under  God  the  members  of  Ascension  Parish  had  any  pretension  to  owe 
allegiance),  but  upon  its  very  Capital,  to  the  daily  peril  of  the  lives  and 
goods  of  its  inhabitants. 

Of  such  sympathy  the  house  of  God  in  your  occupancy  became  to  all  men, 
for  the  time,  a  visible  symbol.  Could  it  undergo  a  worse  desecration?  Iu 
my  statement  of  the  resiilt  of  your  conduct,  when  I  received  it  a-s  a  hypothesis, 
I  can  see  nothing  to  amend,  now  that,  unhappily,  I  have  to  accept  it  as  a 
fact. 

Your  complaint  of  "  offensive  denunciation."  liecause  I  spoke  of  the  alleged 
action  of  the  rector  of  Ascension  Parish  as  "  violative  of  his  ordination  vows 
and  canonical  obligatitins,"  is  unfounded.  The  breach  of  vows  depends  upon 
the  violation  of  the  canons;  the  vow.  so  far  as  in  the  purview  of  mye.\i)re.H- 
sion,  being  to  the  observation  of  the  canon.  I  now  for  the  tirst  time  authen- 
tically learn  that  you  regard  my  action  in  ])rescribing  the  form  of  prayer 
which  you  refusecl  to  use  as  uncanouical,  and  not  even  yet  am  made  aware 
on  what  ground  it  is  that  you  so  regard  it.  I  have  no  doubt  of  the  strict 
correctness  of  my  coiirse. 

Is  the  bishop  to  assume,  in  every  instance  of  what  he  considers  ]ilain 
violation  of  canon,  that  there  is  no  such  violation,  so  long  as  the  presbyter 
differs  from  him  in  opinion  ? 


370  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY, 

Is  the  law  no  law  because  the  presbyter  thiuks  it  none  ?  You  had  given 
me  no  notice  of  your  denial  of  my  ground  of  action.  For  aught  that  you 
had  done  to  inform  me— for  aught  that  I  could  possibly  know  officially — 
your  course  was  taken  in  quiet  contempt,  as  much  of  the  canon  as  of  my 
construction  of  it.  However  conscientiously  taken,  with  whatever  purity 
of  motive,  or  exalted  dignity  of  intention,  such  a  course  in  one  subject  to 
oversight  can  only  be  regarded  by  the  official  overseer  as  breach  of  law.  As 
such  he  is  bound  to  treat  it.  in  speech  or  action,  whenever  it  may  be  brought 
before  his  notice. 

It  has  now,  therefore,  become  my  undesired  and  unwelcome  duty  to  laj^ 
your  case  before  the  Standing  Committee  of  the  Diocese,  as  one  requiring 
the  attention  of  the  accredited  guardians  of  the  law.  The  sufferance  of  your 
course,  after  its  avowal  by  you.  would  become  the  acknowledgment  of  what 
I  utterly  disbelieve — my  own  liability  to  accusation  for  transgression  of  the 
just  limits  of  official  action.  While  I  could  ignore  your  course,  I  was  per- 
fectly content  to  leave  the  case  for  quiet  decision  by  the  public  opinion  of 
the  Chvirch.  But  now  that  I  find  myself  persistently  called  upon  by  silence 
to  confess  a  wrong,  or  else  to  lie  under  imputation  of  abuse  when  I  assert 
my  right,  appeal  to  judicial  decision  becomes  compiilsory. 

I  purposely  waive  side  questions  imported  into  your  letter.  You  have 
imputed  to  me  both  admission  of  principle  and  action  which  I  utterly  dis- 
avow :  but  they  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  question  of  right  in  this  matter, 
and  I  desire  to  avoid  useless  discussion.  For  the  same  reason  I  take  no 
notice  of  your  mention  of  action  by  other  than  the  immediate  parties  in  this 
sad  affair,  on  which  I  might  otherwise  have  much  to  offer  in  the  way  of 
comment. 

I  am.  reverend  and  dear  sir,  in  all  faithfulness  and  true  Christian  love, 
vour  friend  and  brother, 

WILLIAM  EOLLINSON  WHITTINGHAM, 

Bishop  of  Maryland. 

Baltimore,  August  2'M,  1862. 


Di'.  Pinkney  to  Biihop  Whittingham. 

August  29,  1862. 

Eight  Keverexd  Sie  :  I  did  not  intend  to  trespass  further  upon  your  time, 
but  there  are  some  things  in  your  letter  of  August  23  which  imperatively 
demand  a  passing  notice. 

You  speak  of  the  gratification  you  derive  from  the  reflection  that  this  cor- 
respondence is  not  of  your  origination.  I  persuade  myself  that  the  sequel, 
with  what  has  gone  before,  will  prove  that  it  is  not  of  my  origination.  You 
say  that  your  letter,  transmitting  your  canonical  communication  of  March 
15'.  went  by  ordinary  course  of  mail,  the  transmission  only  being  notified  by 
telegraph.  But  surely  when  it  is  remembered  that  the  1.5th  of  March  was 
Saturday,  and  that  the  prayer  was  ordered  to  be  used  the  Sunday  following, 
and  that  Baltimore  is  only  a  few  miles  distant  from  Washington,  and  that  I 
w^as  in  Baltimore  the  Wednesday  before  at  a  meeting  of  the  Standing  Commit- 
tee, who  were  your  lawful  advisei-s,  it  will  be  seen  that  no  time  was  intended 
to  be  given  for  either  deliberation  or  consultation,  but  that  telegraph  despatch 
was  to  render  action,  on  the  spur  of  the  moment,  necessary.  You  say  that 
you  saw  with  sorrow  statements  in  the  public  prints,  seriously  compromis- 
ing the  character  of  "some  of  your  l)rethren."  Those  statements  met  my 
eye  also. 

The  omission  to  use  the  prayer  put  forth  was  connected  with  the  most 
offensive  denunciations  and  imputations  of  motive.  A  violation  of  canon, 
assumed  as  proved,  was  charged  upon  me.     Terms  of  reproach  were  hurled 


APPENIJIX.  .{71 

with  the  utmost  freedom  by  those  tmoiiyinous  ncws-wiitirs.  to  wlmin  %..» 
refer  elsewhere.  And  the  hisho])  of  the  diu<-ese  was  cuiitfiitrd  tti  eiijnv  lh<> 
praise  that  was  awarded  to  him.  while  hr  perused,  without  oiu-  word  of  Vmiij. 
meut  or  remouslrance,  these  imputations  cast  upon  Ills  brethren.  Wlien  th« 
provost  marshal  took  formal  military  possession  of  my  elnireli.  I  t<ild  him 
that  there  was  uo  reason  t<j  ai)i»rehend  the  disturlmnee  of  tlie  jieuee,  Ihm-uuhu 
nothing  had  been  done  to  justify  it ;  tliat  the  services  were  in  conf<irniity 
with  the  law,  in  my  honest  belief.  In  this  I  did  not  seek  to  arriii^Mi  you  he. 
fore  the  military  authorities,  unless  the  simple  assertion  tliat,  in  n>y  "view  of 
the  canon.  1  was  not  recpiired  to  use  the  prayer  put  fortli.  bean  arraignment. 
I  was  the  person  whom  the  press  had  held  up  to  scorn  and  politii-al  abuse  in 
a  matter  that  only  cimcerned  the  canon  law  of  the  Clnin-li.  I  acti-d  solely 
on  the  defensive.  Y(m  yourself  admit  that  you  saw  statements  seriously 
comprisinsj;  the  character  of  some  of  your  brethren  :  and  yet  yoji  allowed 
these  statements  to  remain  without  one  word  of  e.xphmation.  whi-n  the  only 
point  at  issue  was  the  supposed  infraction  of  the  canon,  and  could  be  only 
fairly  viewed  in  that  light.  Was  I  to  remain  (piiet  and  utter  no  word  in  >elf. 
defence  when  the  armed  ])ossession  of  my  church  by  military  autlioritv  be- 
came a  fixed  fact  ?  A  military  autliority  which,  in  a  countiy  liki-  onrs.  wliere 
the  Church  and  State  are  happily  independent  of  each  other.  i-oul<l  hardlv 
be  supposed  capable  of  punishing  an  net  of  diitobediencf  to  (tn  trrltMi'tiMfiml 
canon  by  military  penaltif,  although  it  had  been,  as  \^m  tell  us,  jmblicly 
rumoured  that  our  rexistance  to  your  formal  action  had  drawn  the  rittentiini 
of  the  provoKt  marshal  to  uh. 

Your  letter  in  reply  to  the  communication  of  the  fact  of  the  military  ]>os- 
session  of  the  church  was  not  answered  because  its  tone  seemed  to  lis  to 
make  it  unadvisable.  Your  criticism  of  the  language  used  by  me  in  my  let- 
ter to  the  provost  marshal  (a  letter  that  was  not  written  without  the  aid  of 
the  best  counsel),  w'herein  I  sjieak  of  the  canons  of  the  diocese.  I  pass  by. 
with  the  simple  statement  that,  not  being  skilled  in  sixl)terfuge,  nor  given  to 
evasion,  I  thoiight  the  provost  marshal  would  understand  me  t<»  mean  the 
canons  that  were  binding  on  the  diocese.  I  merely  stated  to  him  my  belief 
that  the  ccmrse  I  ijursued  was  lawful.  I  did  not  assume  to  myself  the 
province  of  Judge.  I  do  not  now  as.sume  it.  Nor  did  I  use  this  language 
until  those  statements,  seriously  com])romising  my  honor  and  integrity,  had 
been  bruited  through  the  land  by  anonymtms  news-writei>,  without  one 
word  of  sympathy  or  remonstrance  from  my  bishop.  You  knew  that  the 
canon  law  was  the  only  thing  at  issue — that  my  offence,  if  offence  I  had  com- 
mitted, w^as  the  violation  of  the  canon,  and  yet  you  permitted  my  name  and 
that  of  others  of  your  brethren  to  be  bruited'  thnmgh  the  land,  on  charges  of 
another  sort,  and  now  you  c(miplaiu  that  language  used  by  me  in  self-defeuce 
to  the  provost  marshal  and  in  the  protest  is  my  arraignment  of  you. 

I  have  never  thought  that  the  violation  of"  canons,  on  whicli  there  is  n 
diversity  of  construction,  was  a  proper  cause  for  judicial  j>rocess:  and  you 
holdinVour  possession  proof  positive  that  .such  is  my  orticial  opinion.  I 
would  not  consent  to  arraign  an  humblt>  ])resbyter  on  such  grounds.  How. 
then,  could  I  desire  to  arraign  my  bishop  ?  All  that  I  have  done  has  been 
done  in  sheer  self-defence,  with  no  view  to  the  arraignment  of  anybody. 

The  misai)prehensi()n.  under  which  yim  say  T  lalior.  I  do  not  yet  under- 
stand. Y(m  tell  me  that  the  epithets  *'•  wilful  and  flagrant."  were  adopted 
as  part  of  the  "  unhappy  rumour  largely  circulated."  etc.,  and  that,  by  re- 
hearsing them,  vou  "  did  not  adopt  them  otherwise  than  as  expressive  of  the 
fact  that  such  construction  had  been  put  upon  your  alleged  action."  Did 
you  not  know  that  such  epithets  were  the  uncalled-for  almse  of  a  licentious 
press,  and  that  mv  only  ortenci'  could  have  been  the  violation  of  canon  law. 
on  the  interpretation  o'f  which  ycm  might  have  known  there  was,  to  say  the 
least,  a  prevailing  opinion  the  opposite  of  your  own  ';  Sonn-  of  the  members 
of  Trinity  church,  adopting  my  interpretation,  or  acting  ujion  it,  published 


372  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

their  dissent  from  the  correctness  of  your  construction  of  the  law,  and  among 
them  is  one  of  the  first  lawyers  of  the  District,  whose  political  opinions,  as 
far  as  I  know,  are  coincident  with  your  own. 

I  cannot  express  in  words  the  surprise  with  which  I  read  the  following 
succeeding  paragraph  :  ''  You  now  voluntarily  justify  that  construction, 
allowance  being  made  for  difference  of  regard  by  observers  in  a  diamet- 
rically opposite  point  of  view. 

'  •  What  loyal  news-writers  represented  as  wilful ,  you  avow  as  done  advisedly, 
of  set  purpose,  after  deliberation.  What  they  complain  of  as  flagrant,  you 
avow  as  done  publicly,  in  the  broad  face  of  day." 

In  reply,  I  affirm  that  I  never  acknowledged  the  censors  of  the  secular 
press  as  proper  judges  of  the  legality  of  the  course  of  conduct  pursued. 

What  they  alleged  was  done  by  me,  I  deny  was  done  at  all ;  and  at  the 
time  you  penned  the  above  you  had  my  solemn  denial  before  you.  I  omitted 
the  prayer.     That  is  all  I  did. 

When  they  affirmed  that  I  irllfully  mulnted  the  law,  and  from  a  mere 
qiiestion  of  canonicity  of  action,  on  a  point  purely  ecclesiastical,  launched 
out  into  a  tirade  of  abuse,  they  uttered  what  I  deny. 

What  \o\\  will  gain  by  a  rehearsal  of  this  abuse,  reijeated  after  solemn 
protest  from  me,  it  is  not  for  me  to  say.  I  had  informed  you  that  some  of 
the  ablest  lawyers  in  the  Diocese,  all  of  them  skilled  in  canon  law  and  de- 
voted to  the  best  interests  of  the  Church,  thought  your  rescript  uucanonical. 
Why  you  should  prefer  the  characterization  of  my  course  by  anonymous 
news-wi'iters  to  those  who  are  learned  in  the  law  it  is  not  for  me  to  decide. 
I  protest  against  an  official  act  of  mine  in  a  matter  purely  ecclesiastical  be- 
ing mixed  up  with  affairs  of  state.  Youi  rescript  and  my  omission  to  use  it 
are  the  only  points  at  issiie  between  us.  You  draw  a  picture  of  the  feelings 
that  would  rise  up  in  the  bosom  of  a  stranger  at  the  sight  of  the  church  on 
H  street,  of  which,  to  use  your  own  language,  the  "  rector,  vestry,  and  con- 
gregation would  rather  violate  a  canon  and  put  an  affront  upon  their  bishop, 
than  join  in  thanksgiving  for  the  deliverance  of  the  Capital  from  protracted 
siege  and  blockade,"  &c.  I  know  what  that  stranger  would  have  seen  and  felt, 
if  he  had  been  led  to  enter  it.  He  wotild  have  heard  the  rector,  vestry,  and 
congregation  praying  as  the  bishop  taught  them,  for  those  who  are  engaged 
in  the  miserable  strife  that  now  distracts  the  land,  and  asking  God  to  judge 
between  them ;  while  their  thoughts  were  directed  to  the  future  eternal 
world,  and  the  Sabbath  day  was  kejjt  free  from  the  ijrevailing  excitement, 
and  made  emphatically  a  day  of  rest. 

I  am  contented  to  abide  by  the  decision  of  the  Standing  Committee,  to  the 
old  members  of  which  I  communicated  the  gravamen  of  my  offence,  if  of- 
fence there  be.  But  I  deeply  regret  that  the  presentation  of  my  case  to  the 
ecclesiastical  authorities  for  the  omission  to  use  a  prayer,  which  I  did  not 
believe  the  canon  made  obligatory,  should  proceed  from  a  bishop  who,  in 
case  the  legislature  at  its  approaching  session  should  decide  on  an  imme- 
diate secession  of  the  State,  authorized  the  clergy  of  the  State  of  Maryland 
to  omit  the  President  of  the  United  States  from  the  prayer  for  all  in  author- 
ity, at  a  time  when  those  authorities,  who,  he  tells  tis,  are  alone  entitled  to 
our  allegiance,  were  the  authorities  exercising  rule  over  him  and  them. 

I  not  less  deeply  regret  that  you  were  led  to  discard  jowv  own  wise  words 
when  you  told  tis  "  that  we  were  commanded  to  live  peaceably  with  all  men, 
to  give  no  offence,  neither  to  the  Jew  nor  to  the  Gentile,  nor  to  the  Church 
of  God ;  giving  no  offence  in  anything,  that  the  ministry  be  not  blamed." 
Y'ou  told  us  "  that  a  great  woe  was  denounced  against  him  who  shall  offend 
one  of  the  Master's  little  ones,"  and  you  exhorted  us  to  "  let  our  prayers  go 
up  Ijefore  God  in  such  form  that  all  can  join  in  them  with  a  pure  conscience 
and  single  heart." 

Animated  by  these  great  princijiles,  which  were  enunciated  by  yourself, 
and  believing  the  canon  did  not  compel  me  to  i;se  a  form  in  painftU  antago- 


APPENitix.  :{7:{ 

nimn  to  them.  I  kept  silence;  aud  fur  tliMt  1  am  ik.w  liillf.l   in  cju.  . 

yourself.     I  abido  the  ivpi)i'iil  U,  thf  Staiidiii.^'  Cuimiiitt f  th.-  lM.M.-.r.  thi- 

Hccredited  j^niiirdiaiis  nf  tli.-  law,  Indon-  win. in  vim  <-it<'  me.  Y.ui  .jiL.t.-  m 
passage  wliieh  you  say  emanated  fnMu  one  of  ns.  which  r.-adH  tlnm:  "To 
symi)athize  with  tlu'  South,  and.  when  the  jji-ojxt  time  arrivi-s.  whirh  in  not 
far  off,  will  gravitate  to  tli(>  South."  Tlie  reetor  and  vestrv  of  .\se.'nHion 
Parish  stand  in  no  way.  direi-tly  or  indin-etly.  conniTt.'d  with  thin  pansa^i- 
or  its  author. 

All  our  communications  bear  our  own  signatures,  and  for  thcni  alone  are 
we  responsible. 

Yours  truly, 

WII.I.IA.M    IM\K\r;V. 
Right  Rev'd  W.  K.  Whittinoham, 

J{/k/ii>P  of  Min-i/liiiiil. 


liiKhop  W/iitt/ufj/iam  to  Rev.  Willium  Pinknii/,  D.  I). 

Reverend  AND  Dear  Sir  :  Other  matters  have  intervened  to  hin<l.'r  my 
earlier  acknowledgment  of  your  letter  of  August  2!lth. 

My  answer  to  your  renewed  coiii])laint  about  tlu-  jiri'cipitani-y  of  my  com- 
munication of  March  15th.  and  the  alleged  intention  of  the  telegram  aniioiine- 
ing  its  di.spatch,  needs  only  a  single  statement.  On  March  lltli.  the  evacua- 
tion of  Manassas  and  its  consequences  became  known.  On  the  12th.  they 
were  puVdished  in  the  papers  at  Baltimore  and  elsewheri". 

On  the  13th  I  was  written  to,  and  reijuested  to  furnish  a  form  of  tlianks- 
giving  for  the  recent  victories,  for  the  District  of  Columbia. 

On  the  14th  I  received  the  letters.  I  delil)erated,  ami  preferred  to  nnike 
the  deliverance  from  siege  and  blockade  prominent  in  the  thanksgiving,  u." 
the  fruit  of  the  victories,  more  directly  of  interest  to  the  District,  and  les.s 
likely  to  give  umbrage  to  persons  disloyally  disposed. 

On  the  15th  I  sent  the  circular,  and  at  the  same  time  announced  its  send- 
ing, that  all  to  whom  it  was  directed  might  be  in  possession  of  it  on  the  first 
Sunday  after  the  deliverance.  The  sequence  of  occurrences  \.'as  natural  and 
not  the  result  of  any  choice  or  j)urpose  of  mine. 

Your  complaint  about  want  of  time  for  deliberation  is  foiiuded  on  the  as- 
sumption of  a  right  of  which  I  can  discover  no  trace  in  tlie  canon  on  which 
I  acted.  Y'our  objection  to  my  action,  that  it  was  taken  without  con.sultatiou 
of  the  Standing  Ci;)mmittee,  which  had  met  just  befori-.  is  in  many  respects 
ill  taken. 

1.  The  meeting  of  the  Standing  Committee  took  place  just  liefore  my  ac- 
tion was  called  for. 

2.  I  was  in  no  way  notified  of  the  meeting  of  the  Standing  Committee- 
still  less  of  the  views  and  dispositions  of  the  members  of  that  body  concern- 
ing the  matter  in  question. 

3.  Nothing  in  the  canon  requires  or  intimates  the  propriety  of  such  con- 
sultation. 

4.  Outside  oi  the  canon  I  know  no  such  obligation  or  call  t<i  consultntiou 
of  the  Committee  as  would  in  anywise  vitiate  or  aflFect  my  action  takeu 
without  it. 

5.  The  constitution  of  the  Standing  Committee  in  the  diocese  is  such  iw 
makes  it  impracticable  for  the  bishop  to  consult  that  body  in  such  sudden 
emergencies  as  most  frequently  require  action  under  the  canon. 

G.  In  like  cases  heretofore  l"have  never  thouglit  of  such  consultation,  nor 
ever  learned  of  its  having  been  expected. 

I  will  enter  into  no  further  argument  on  the  subject  of  what  has  thuB  far 
passed  between  us  in  relation  to  this  affair.  Every  complaint  of  yours  ap- 
pears to  me  to  grow  out   of  misunderstanding  of  my  actions  or  exi)re.s!*iou». 


374  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

any  attemiDted  con-ection  of  which  on  my  part  would,  I  fear,  only  lead  to 
wider  diiferences.  In  all  the  course  of  your  remarks  you  assume,  and  in  one 
place  assert  (with  the  inadmissible  allegation  that  I  ''knew  it"j,  "  that  the 
canon  law  was  the  only  thing  at  issue."  On  the  contrary,  I  regard  your 
course  throughout  as  a  violation  of  the  Divine  law  laid  down  in  Scripture, 
with  regard  to  prayer  for  those  in  authority  and  duty  to  the  powers  ordained 
of  God,  and  of  the  established,  invariable  usage  of  the  Church  with  regard 
to  a  bishop's  duty  in  the  regulation  of  Divine  worship  in  his  diocese. 

Neither  will  I  engage  in  the  discussion  of  the  question  of  canonical  right. 
There  is  no  prospect  of  its  being  settled  by  our  interchange  of  correspond- 
ence. 

I  do  not  yet  know  what  your  objectiim  to  my  action  is,  as  you  have  never 
stated  it. 

I  am  quite  ignorant  of  your  authorities,  learned  in  the  canon  law,  and 
equally  so  of  the  grounds  of  their  advice.  I  have  never  heard  of  any  differ- 
ence of  opinion  in  the  Church  on  the  interpretation  of  the  canon  in  question 
that  would  affect  mv  action,  much  less  of  any  prevailing  ojiinion  unfavora- 
ble to  it. 

Your  "  protest  against  mixing  up  affairs  of  state  with  your  official  act  in  a 
matter  jiurely  ecclesiastical "  is  very  strange.  What  gave  your  act  signifi- 
cance ?  What  made  it  a  public  scandal  ?  The  fact  that  everybody  knew, 
and  you  could  not  honestly  deny,  that  it  had  reference  to  the  state  of  opin- 
ion on  "  affairs  of  state."  When  did  the  Church  ever  ignore  or  disobey  the 
Lord's  command  to  "  mix  up  affairs  of  state"  in  her  acts  of  worship  by 
making  supplications,  prayers,  intercessions,  and  giving  of  thanks  for  all 
men,  for  kings,  and  for  all  that  are  in  authority,  that  we  may  lead  a  quiet 
and  peaceable  life  in  all  Godliness  and  honesty  'i 

Yovir  reference  to  my  circular,  issued  in  expectation  of  an  event  which 
never  occurred,  is  irrelevant  and  hardly  decorous.  Irrelevant,  because  that 
circular  never  concerned  you  or  any  member  of  the  diocese  resident  in  the 
District  of  Columbia:  hardly  decorous,  because,  not  having  received  the 
paper  yourself,  you  could  only  have  obtained  knowledge  of  it  by  a  violation 
of  the  confidence  in  which  it  was  issued  by  some  one  of  the  receivers.  That 
circular  provided  against  a  contingency,  so  as  to  hinder  a  greater  evil  by 
permission  of  a  lesser.  It  provisionally  sanctioned  prayer  for  the  civil  au- 
thority in  general  terms  in  order  to  stop  the  mouths  of  any  who  might  be 
disposed  to  turn  the  prayers  of  the  Church  into  vehicles  of  rebellion. 

Your  own  present  use  of  my  language  in  that  circular,  while  it  fails  of  the 
end  designed,  bears  evidence  to  my  past  endeavors  to  do  my  duty  with  least 
possible  offence  of  conscience  to  those  whom,  while  I  regarded  them  as  in 
grievous  sin,  I  was  desirous  to  retain  in  Christian  fellowship.  Before  any 
competent  triliunal  I  have  no  fear  of  failure  to  establish  my  own  perfect  con- 
sistency, throughout  the  whole  course  of  uiy  difficult  task,  in  reconciling  the 
loyalty  of  a  Bible-taught  Churchman  with  the  lenity  of  a  loving  father  deal- 
ing with  erring  children. 

Very  faithfullv,  vour  friend  and  brother. 

WILLIAM  ROLLINSON  WHITTINGHAM, 

Bhliop  of  Maryland. 

Baltimore.  September  !itk,  1802. 


Hev.  Dr.  Pinkuey  tv  the  titatuliiig  Cummittee. 

September  24th,  18fi2. 

I  respectfully  submit  to  the  consideration  of  the  Standing  Committee  of 

the  Diocese  the  following  letter,  received  by  me   from  the  bishop,  dated 

September  IfJth,  1802.     You  will  decide,  as  the  bishop  states  in  the  com- 

miinication  submitted  to  yoii,  "  whether,  under  the  sixth  canon  of  1847  of 


AI'I'KM.IX.  :}75 

this  diocese,  it  is  proper  that  ii  judiritil  invcstif^ntiiin  shall  take  phi.  .  | 

cheerfully  await  that  (h-cisi.m.  hcin-,'  contidcnt  that  I  hav.-  vi.)latf<l  ii<>  luw. 
and  haviii;^  the  testimony  of  my  own  conscicnff  that  in  this  mut-  \  H..)n,'ht 
and  obtained  tin-  very  hest  counsel  I  could  gentlemen  learned  in  the  law. 
whom  I  consulted,  not  as  advocates,  hut  as  friends  of  the  ('hureh  and  tin- 
law . 

But  I  do  protest  a<,'ainst  the  monstrous  i)retensions  set  uji  hy  the  bishop, 
and  the  threat,  by  him  fulminated,  that  your  decision,  in  a  Certain  con- 
tingency. •"  is  not  to  be  rc;^far(lcd  as  any  settlement  of  thetpiestion  raised  by 
you  |nie],  [I  thou<,dit  I  was  the  resjiondent  in  this  cause,  answering,'  to  a 
char^'c,  not  makin<^  one],  and  cannot  be  so  accepted  by  me.  I  shall  in  that 
event  hold  myself  at  liberty  to  resort  to  any  other  availalde  means  of  estab- 
lishin<j  the  official  right  which  I  conceive  to  have  been  unduly  set  aside." 
This  is  a  singular  threat  to  be  held  in  terrorem  over  you  and  me.  The  com- 
mittee, I  respectfully  submit,  are  made,  by  the  dth Canon  of  1«47,  the  sole 
judges  of  the  propriety  of  a  judicial  investigation.  The  canon  is  e.xplicit. 
It  reads  thus:  •'  Whenever  the  Standing  t'onimittee.  or  a  majority  of  them. 
shall,  from  any  information  so  laid  before  them  by  the  bisho]>.  A-<-..  A-c..  be 
of  opiitioa  that  it  is  proptr  that  n  jitdiciid  iiirixtio<itii>it  of  the  fmnhirt  ..f  (mii 
priext  or  dearjni  shmild  take  phice,  they  shall  jjresent  that  fact  to  the  bishoji. 
itc.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  hishup,  ujjon  the  lurdpt  of  such  prmmt. 
ment,  to  cmtse  the  charge  or  charges  to  be  drawn  uj),  Ac.,  iVc."  Shall  a 
bishop  who  seeks  to  bring  a  presbyter  to  trial  for  a  breach  of  canon  law 
attempt  to  interfere  with  the  free  exercise  of  the  powers  conferred  upon  the 
very  tribunal  to  which  he  aj)peals,  by  a  thr(>atcned  disregard  of  their  flecjsion, 
when  that  decision  shall  be  pronounced?  Shall  he,  in  exjiressly  cited  cases 
in  1!S()1,  which  now  constitute  a  part  of  their  record,  be  allowed  to  fault  their 
official  action,  which  was  in  strict  conformity  with  the  law,  and  a<lmonish 
them  that  he,  Wm.  R.  Whittingliam,  will  not  emhtre  a  repetiti<in  of  such 
procedure  ? 

I  hold  that  the  bishop's  threat,  in  view  of  an  adjudication  of  a  case  alremly 
submitted  by  him  to  you.  is  a  dangerous  and  oli"ensive  intrusion  ui>on  your 
prerogatives.  I  expect  you  tf)  pronounce  upon  the  law.  I  (h'sire  it.  Hut  I 
repel  indignantly  the  imputation  cast  up(m  the  committee,  and  deny  that 
they  have  subjected  themselves  to  the  reproof  of  the  bishop  on  account  of 
the  decision  they  pronounced  in  18(!1 :  and  I  only  regret  that  not  so  much 
as  the  remotest  hint  was  then  given  of  the  dernier  rexm/rt  with  which  I  am 
now  menaced.  It  seems  as  though  I  were  to  be  pursued  with  an  extraonli- 
uary  outburst  of  the  official  authority  of  the  diocese,  so  far  as  it  is  vested  in 
thebishop  and  beyond  it,  for  in  ISdl  no  such  outburst  occurred,  and  in  IHC'i 
I  find  myself  alone  in  the  onslaught.  I  do  not  comjjlain.  IJut  I  do  most 
solemnly" protest  against  this  attempted  or  threatened  interference  with  the 
canonical  right  of  the  committee  to  judge  for  themselves  of  the  propriety  of 
institiiting  judicial  investigation:  and  the  solemn  repeal  of  the  canon  on 
rumors  by  the  late  convention,  against  the  earnest  remonstrance  of  the 
bishop,  proves  that  the  diocese  thought  that  the  power  to  settle  that  (pies- 
tion  had  best  be  lodged  in  the  hands  of  more  discreet  jiresbyt.-rs.  ^^'hat  the 
bishop  really  means  beyond  this,  that  he  will  not  abide  by  the  decisi(»n  you 
mav  pronounce  if  that'decisioii  is  against  a  jiresentment.  for  reasons  of  ex- 
pedience, or  otherwise,  as  in  the  cases  in  IHIH,  and  what,  by  the  re.sort  to 
any  other  available  means  of  establishing  his  otficial  right,  I  know  not.  Nor 
do*  I  care  to  lift  the  veil  where  such  portentous  omens  are  hung  out  over  the 
judgment-seat  before  which  I  am  arraigned.  But  I  trust  that  if  the  time 
should  ever  arrive  when  a  Ijishop  shall  attempt  to  set  aside  or  in  anywise  seek 
to  invalidate  the  solemn  adjudicatiim  of  the  grand  jury  of  the  diocese,  acting 
under  the  authoritv  of  law  (a  law,  too,  ])assed  by  the  diocese  .luring  the 
episcopate  of  the  present  incumbent),  and  that  iuacaseexi)ressly  .■•.mmiited 
by  him  to  them,  he  will  find  a  diocese  as  resolute  of  will  aud  determined  lu 


376  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

purpose  as  the  exigency  of  the  case  demands.  What  I  Shall  a  bishop  cite 
a  clergyman  to  apjiear  before  the  tribunal  which  the  diocese  appointed  to 
stand  between  him  and  the  odium  of  a  trial  before  the  court,  and  shall  he. 
in  case  they  decide  that  it  is  not  proper  to  institute  judicial  investigation, 
for  reasons  satisfactory  to  themselves,  of  which  they  are  made  the  sole  judges, 
declare  beforehand  his  determination  to  disregard'  their  decision,  and  that, 
too,  in  the  very  breath  in  which  he  appeals  to  them,  in  the  terms  of  the  canon, 
as  the  parties  who  are  to  decide  whether  it  is  proper  to  institute  judicial  in- 
vestigation ?  There  is  no  law  by  which  any  clergyman  can  be  reached  but 
through  your  presentment.  It  is  for  you  alone  to  issue  the  mandate  for  a 
trial,  if  in  your  opinion  it  is  proper  to  do  so. 

I  derive  a  proud  satisfaction  from  the  belief  that  in  your  appropriate 
sphere  you  will  maintain  the  high  prerogatives  with  which  you  are  clothed 
by  law,  and  allow  no  such  threat  as  that  which  is  used  in  the  letter  forwarded 
by  me  to  you  to  overshadow  and  overawe  your  august  tribunal,  and  per- 
mit no  such  impeachment  of  the  purity  and  legality  of  yoiir  just  decision 
to  divert  you  from  the  faithful  discharge  of  your  whole  duty.  I  speak 
strongly,  but  not  more  so  than  the  case  warrants.  It  concerns  me  to  hear 
the  bishop  declare  that  he  will  not  abide  by  the  decision  you  may  pronounce, 
if,  as  in  1861,  you  decide  against  presentment  for  reasons  of  expediency  or 
otherwise ;  and  that  in  a  given  contingency  he  will  feel  himself  at  liberty 
to  resort  to  any  other  available  means,  in  defiance  of  your  judgment  pro- 
nounced imder  the  canon  of  1 847. 

You  have  the  sole  control  of  the  presentation  of  a  clergyman  for  trial. 
You  have  it  by  law.  You  have  exercised  the  right  already.  In  1861  the 
bishop  himself  acquiesced  in  the  exercise  of  the  right.  It'is  for  the  right 
in  the  abstract  that  I  now  plead  ;  and  I  plead  for  it  the  more  earnestly,  be- 
cause in  that  right  I  recognize  the  sovereign  will  of  the  diocese,  who  saw 
fit  to  place  a  tribunal  of  their  own  choice  between  the  clergy  and  the 
bishop.  It  is  the  only  shield  that  can  save  the  priesthood  in' the  lower 
orders  from  a  spiritual  despotism,  that  might  otherwise  burden  them  with 
the  scandal  of  a  trial,  ancl  afflict  the  diocese  with  the  arraignment  of  its 
clergy  on  charges  of  a  violation  of  canons,  as  needless  as  they  would  be 
cruel.  Once  permit  the  bishop  to  mould  this  high  tribunal  by  moulding  its 
decisions :  once  suffer  the  right  of  deciding  on  the  i^ropriety  of  instituting 
judicial  investigation  for  reasons  of  which  you  are  made  the  only  judges 
to  be  rifled  from  you,  or  your  decisions  to  be  unceremoniously  ignored  by 
declarations  made  beforehand,  and  we  have  nothing  left  but  to  put  our 
necks  under  the  iron  heel  of  a  spiritual  despotism,  where  the  will  of  one 
man  is  to  mould  all  things  to  itself. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  I  make  this  protest  only  after  the  bishop,  in  a 
letter  to  me,  charges  without  cause  past  official  dereliction  of  duty  against 
me.  in  common  with  yourselves  (for  I  was  a  party  to  the  decisions  of  1861), 
and  usurps  to  himself  the  right  to  infringe  upon  your  high  prerogatives,  as 
the  grand  inquest  of  the  diocese,  by  making  himself  the  judge  of  the  pro- 
Ijriety  of  doing  that  which  you  may  decline  to  do  in  a  resort  to  any  other 
available  means,  when  by  the  law  of"  1847  your  decision,  if  it  be  against  pre- 
sentment for  any  reason,  is,  and  must  be,  final.  The  principle  advanced 
lirompts  me,  an  one  of  your  bndy,  to  make  this  solemn  protest  against  this 
extraordinary  claim  of  the  bishop.  Debarred  by  the  fact  of  my  presentment 
from  any  deliberation  on  the  documents  now  laid  before  you,  and  yet 
admonished  that  no  regard  in  a  certain  contingency  will  be  paid  to  your 
decision  when  pronounced,  and  at  the  same  time  faulted  in  my  action  in  the 
cases  of  1861,  I  cannot,  in  duty  to  myself,  as  a  member  of  your  body, 
refrain  from  this  earnest  protest.  I  therefore  submit  this  paper  to  your 
especial  consideration,  and  demand,  as  my  right,  that  it  be  spread  ui^on 
your  journal,  together  with  the  letter  of  the  bishoj),  to  be  the  after-witness 
to  the  Church  that,  while  I  was  wholly  unmoved  bv  the  threat,  I  was  not 


Ari'KMHx.  ;{77 

uiuuiiultul  of  tlu-  ii.,'lits  of  the  body  of  which  I  ain  ii  iim-iiiIht,  l.ut  wiw  pr... 
piired  to  defeiid  thos.-  rights  to  the  uttennost  iigiiiiist  iisHunlt  friiiii  whutrv.-r 
quiuter.  The  right  of  sok^  control  of  tlie  wlmh-  suhject  of  tin-  |ir."^.T,tin.«iit 
of  11  clergyman  for  trial ;  th(>  right  of  (h-ciding  f„r  or  iigiiinst  it  i.r.-H..,.tm..nt 
for  reasons  that  iire  solely  within  our  jurisdiction,  I  irlU  nrrrr  Kurrtmlrr. 
And  as.  in  this  case,  I  cannot  share  in  your  deliherations,  I  can  only  Hjin-ml 
upon  your  journal  my  protest  against  the  pretensions  set  up  hy  the  liishnp. 
and  repel  the  unwarranted  imix-achment  of  the  eomniif tee's'action  in  the 
past  year  in  which  I  b.jre  a  part.  I  regard  as  linal  your  rlecision  in  every 
case  where  that  decisicm  is  against  a  presentment, "an<l  will  >ul>niit  to  n<> 
authority  which  shall  seek  at  any  time  by  resorts  nf  any  sort  ti.sri  a'-idr  ihr 
law,  when  you  shall  have  ])ronounced  upon  it. 
Your  friend  and  brother, 

WILLl.VM   riNKNKV. 
To  the  Standing  Committee  of  the  Diocese  of  Mahylanh. 

Dr.  Pinkney  to  Bishop  Whitthtghnut. 

Sept.  itTH.  1KC,2. 

Rkiht  Rev.  Sir  :  I  have  no  desire  to  prolong  the  unhai)i)y  di.scussion  on 
which  I  entered  most  reluctantly,  and  shall  therefore  pass  over  all  that  por- 
tion of  your  letter  which  does  not  concern  me  immediately.  Yon  say  •■  that 
in  the  course  of  your  remarks  you  assume,  and  in  one  place  a-ssert  (\\'\i\i  the 
inadmissible  allegation  that  I  '  knew  it '),  '  that  the  canon  law  was  the  only 
thing  at  issue.'  On  the  contrary,  I  regard  your  course  throughout  a^  a  vio*. 
lation  of  the  divine  law  laid  down  in  Scripture  with  regard  to  ])rayers  for 
those  in  authority  and  duty  to  the  powers  ordained  of  (Jod,  and  of  the  estab- 
lished invariable  usage  of  the  Church  with  regard  to  a  bishop's  duty  in  the 
regulation  of  Divine  worship  in  his  diocese."  When  you  jja.ss  from  tiie  canon 
law  and  enter  upon  this  wide  mediterranean  of  undetined  powers  in  the  epis- 
copate,  you  will  scarcely  e,\pect  me  to  witness  the  transition  without  some 
exclamation  of  sur])rise  and  astonishment.  You  cited  the  law  on  which  you 
based  your  authority  and  challenged  my  obedience.  You  said  not  one  word 
of  any  other  powers  you  possessed  in  the  premises.  You  issued  your  rescript 
in  virtue  of  that  expressly-cited  canon;  and  by  the  citation  yon  waived  all 
right  to  enforce  obedience  on  any  other  grounds.  AVhen  you  sjjecitied  in 
your  order  the  law  under  which  you  acted,  you  committed  yourself  to  that 
as  the  only  ground  on  which  you  could  enforce  my  obedience.  I  take  this 
to  be  a  well-established  ])rincii)le  of  law.  How  could  you  supjiose  that  my 
refusal  to  use  your  form  of  ])rayer  was  a  refusal  to  pray  for  all  in  autiiority, 
when  I  used  the  jjrayer  the  Church  apjiointed  for  that  very  i)urj>ose  y  You 
bade  me  use  the  prayer  which  you  ])Ut  forth  not  because  it  was  indisj)ens4i- 
ble  to  a  compliance  with  the  ajjostolic  i)recept,  but  because  you  had  put  it 
forth  in  virtue  of  the  canon.  I  believed  (and  I  sought  counsel  of  those  who 
are  learned  in  the  law,  and  they  confirmed  me  in  the  belief;  that  you  <lid  not 
act  in  compliance  with  either  its  terms  or  its  spirit ;  and  I  ask.  Can  there  be 
any  point  at  issue  properly  between  us  Imt  the  question  of  a  violation  of 
the  canon?  Is  it  competent  for  a  bishoj)  to  cite  a  canon  and  then  fall  back 
upon  his  assumed  Episcojial  prerogatives  as  they  loom  befor.-  his  iniau'iiiatiou 
in  that  most  shadowy  of  all  forms,  established  usage,  which  is  itself  all  vague 
and  nndefined  ? 

You  nse  portentous  language  when  you  speak  of  a  "  bishoj^s  duty  in  the 
regulation  of  divine  worship  in  his  diocese."  I  thought  that  in  our  branch 
of  the  one  Church  Catholic,  the  worship  was  detined  and  established  by  law. 
and  that  bishops  as  well  as  presbyters  were  controlled  by  the  law  which  the 
Church  has  enacted.  The  canon" you  cited,  it  seems  to  nie.  settl.-s  the  quen- 
tion.  It  tells  us  when  a  bishop  may  add  a  prayer,  and  under  what  circinu- 
stances,  and  it  prescribes  the  mode  of  its  transmission  :  and  by  the  expresw 


378  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

ineutiou  of  two  other  cases,  it  decides  that  there  shall  be  no  other  departure 
from  the  worship  regulated  not  by  the  hi!<hop  but  by  the  Church. 

You  say  that  you  are  quite  ignorant  of  my  authorities  learned  in  the 
canf)n  law,  and  that  you  have  never  heard  of  any  difference  of  opinion  in 
the  Church  on  the  interpretation  of  the  canon  in  question  that  would  affect 
your  action,  much  less  of  anj^  prevailing  opinion  unfavorable  to  it. 

This  may  well  be.  No  authorities  that  could  be  adduced  might  be  deemed 
of  sufficient  merit  to  affect  your  action. 

But  still  authorities  there  are,  and  I  incline  to  the  opinion  that  they  will 
be  considered  entitled  to  some  weight  by  others. 

One  of  them  published  his  dissent  from  your  construction  of  the  law  ;  and 
since  I  wrote  to  you  last,  I  have  the  proofs  before  me  that  one  of  your  own 
presbyters,  as  far  back  as  May,  told  you  that  he  considered  your  rescript 
uncanonical. 

After  this  he  refused  to  use  the  prayer.  It  seems  that  your  sense  of  out- 
raged oflficial  authority  slumbered  in  one  case  that  runs  pari  passu  with  mine. 
I  rejoice  that  that  beloved  bristlier  was  not  pushed  to  prosecution,  while  I 
cheerfully  abide  the  presentment  of  myself  in  his  stead. 

The  Rev.  Wm.  Syle,  in  a  communication  over  his  own  signature,  thus 
writes : 

•'  The  prayer  was  uncauonically  set  forth,  &c.,  <fec.  I  wrote  to  the  Bishop 
telling  him  this  and  giving  him  an  oi^portuuity  to  withdraw  it."  Y'ou  say 
"  What  gave  your  act  significance?  What  made  it  a  public  scandal?  The 
fact  that  everybody  knew,  and  you  could  not  honestly  deny,  that  it  had  ref- 
erence to  the  state  of  opinion  '  on  affairs  of  state.'  "  You  herein  encroach 
on  motive.  By  what  law  it  is  not  for  me  to  say.  But  I  repel  the  imputa- 
tion, and  assert  that  I  do  honestly  declare,  that  in  this  case  I  was  actuated 
by  the  belief  that  your  rescript  wiis  uncanonical.  It  was  a  pure  question 
of  law  that  I  considered  it :  that  was  the  only  aspect  in  which  I  was  called 
to  consider  it.  I  did  not  believe,  nor  do  I  now  believe,  that  St.  Paul's  in- 
junction to  pray  for  all  in  authority  was  dej^endent  for  its  observance  on  the 
form  of  ipordsyou  set  forth,  nor  did  I  consider  that  as  the  question  involved. 

The  canon  was  cited  and  by  the  canon  I  was  controlled.  You  say.  In  fine, 
that  my  reference  to  the  circiilar  is  "irrelevant  and  hardly  decorous."  I 
leave  its  irrelevancy  to  the  adjudication  of  others,  only  suggesting  that  it 
was  itx  relevancy  to  yourself  and  not  to  me  that  induced  me  to  recall  it  to 
y<iur  memory.  Its  want  of  decorum  can  be  judged  of  by  those  who  are 
informed  that  my  quotations  were  taken  from  a  copy  made  by  a  layman 
from  one  of  the  public  prints  of  Baltimore.  I  have  not  the  keeping  of  the 
honor  of  my  brethren  in  my  charge ;  but  if  they  made  public  what  you 
chose  to  style  private,  it  may  have  been  because  they  do  not  admit  your 
right  to  veil  so  irajiortant  an  act  of  authority,  assumed  and  exercised  in 
secresy.  Of  that  they  are  competent  to  judge,  as  they  are  fully  competent 
to  repel  the  impvitation  yoii  cast  upon  them.  The  privacy  sought  to  be 
given  to  the  act  is  a  novelty  in  cases  of  responsibility  which  I  may  not  be 
able  to  appreciate. 

Viewing  your  brethren  as  in  grievous  sin,  I  cannot  understand  how  you 
could,  by  anticipation,  encoiirage  them  in  the  sin  you  hold  in  such  abhor- 
rence. 

How  far  this  was  a  reconciling  of  the  loyalty  of  a  Bible-taught  churchman 
with  the  lenity  of  a  having  father  dealing  with  erring  children  others  must 
determine.  I  will  not  allow  myself  to  speak  of  the  confident  claim  to  being 
Bible-taught  with  its  implication  of  a  deficiency  in  such  teaching  in  others, 
lest  I  subject  myself  to  the  imputation  of  want  of  decoriim. 

I  here  close  my  correspondence. 

Trulv,  vours, 

WILLIAM  PINKNEY. 

Right  Rev.  William  Rollinson  Whittingham,  D.D.,  LL.  D., 

JiixJo'P  <f  Maryland. 


AprKNDix.  :{7<> 

Bishop   Whittinghnm   to  the  Meveretid    Williiiin    I'i'i/,n'i/,   iK   />..  /;,,•/.,,■"(' 
Amrnnitm  Parish. 

Reverend  and  Dear  Sir  :  While  i-losiu^,'  your  own  pint  of  our  corrfHiioiKl. 
ence  by  the  last  words  of  your  letter  of  "the '.Itli,  you  couM  liur.lly  liii\  .• 
expected  of  me  that  I  should  allow  that  letter  to  remain  without  reply. 

I  will  be  as  brief  as  possible  in  taking  the  notice  of  it  wliicii  seems'  to  me 
to  be  necessary.  Much  of  its  contents  is  owint<  ♦'>  '»  continuance  of  the  con- 
fusion (pervadini;  all  your  share  of  our  correspondence)  lietween  ilisc-nssioii 
of  your  i>osition  as  a  (picstioii  of  amenability  to  Church  discijiline  and  vin- 
dication of  your  objections  to  my  letter  to  your  vestry  of  tin-  date  of  tlie  stli 
of  Aui>;ust.  When  your  vestry  formally  laid  before' me  their  protest,  tliev 
made  it  a  le-^itimate  subject  of  remark  by  me.  Had  it  containiMl  notliinj,'  iii 
my  judgment  al)solutely  demanding  notice,  I  could  willingly  Inive  «l)stained 
from  all  comment  whatsoever.  I  have  already  explained  at  lengtli  liow  and 
why  I  was  compelled  to  do  otherwise. 

Every  phrase,  almost  every  word,  of  my  letter  to  the  vestry  has  luiw  been 
discussed  between  us  ;  and  I,  for  my  part,  find  no  reason  td  be  dissatisfied 
with  the  result. 

When  I  wrote  that  letter,  I  neither  had  certain  knowledge  what  your 
course  had  been,  nor  the  slightest  intimation  from  you  winit  were'  the 
grounds  of  your  procedure.  When  your  own  avowal  informed  me  r)f  the  fa<'t 
that  you  had  treated  my  circular  of  March  15th  with  silent  contempt,  it 
became  evident  that  the  expressions  used,  first  in  your  correspondence  witli 
an  United  States  officer,  and  afterward,  in  more  cxj)licit  sha])e,  in  a  fornnil 
document  entered  on  your  pai'ish  record  as  a  memorial  "  to  all  after  time," 
had  been  designed  to  vindicate  such  treatment,  as  due  to  a  proce<lurcon  my 
part  unwarranted  by  law.  The  alternative  left  me  was  either,  by  silent 
submission  to  your  implied  remonstrance  and  reproof,  to  accept  (without 
knowledge  of  the  reason)  the  condemnation  of  my  official  action  as  unea- 
nonical,  or  to  seek  the  vindication  at  once  of  the  law  of  the  Church,  as  known 
and  iinderstood  by  me,  of  the  office  I  bear  (which  your  conduct,  unnoticed, 
woi;ld  set  at  nought),  and  of  my  own  official  integrity  in  my  jiast  course  of 
action,  by  bringing  you  before  a  proper  ecclesiastical  tribune,  to  rendi-r  an 
account  of  your  procedure,  with  its  grounds  and  reasons.  Of  course  I  chose 
the  latter,  and  that  choi<;e  shuts  uj)  for  the  time,  as  between  us,  all  further 
discussion  of  your  accountability  to  the  Church  forljreach  f)f  her  canon  law. 
and  the  involved  violation  of  ordination  vows  and  canonical  obligations. 
Biit  the  clause  of  the  protest  of  your  vestry  which  had  called  for  notice  on 
my  part  had  not  confined  itself  to  an  assertion  of  legal  regularity  :  and  my 
comment  had  followed  it  beyond  that  limit.  Stcj)  by  step  your  objeetions 
to  my  comment,  and  my  replies  to  those  objections,  took  tin-  discussion  into 
a  widening  range  of  topics.  The  question  how  far  the  jjopular  construction 
of  such  action  as  yours  involved  the  "political  taint  "  which  your  vestry 
had  disclaimed  as  inconsistent  with  the  consecration  of  your  building 
naturally  arose,  and  in  its  disciission  deeper  grounds  of  argument  than  the 
mere  letter  hi  canonical  enactment  came  into  view. 

Want  of  attention  to  this  must  have  been  the  cans.-  of  your  "suriirise  and 
astonishment"  at  what  ycm  call  my  i)assage  from  the  canon  law  into  an  un- 
defined region  of  official  jiowers.  We  were  not  pleading  on  an  in<lictuicnt 
before  a  court,  but  corresponding  al)out  certain  matters  on  which,  beside 
the  canonical  question,  there  is  serious  difference  of  opinion  between  us. 
Nothing  in  such  correspondence  limits  me  to  gnmuds  on  which  I  might  be 
disposed  or  able  to  hold  you  to  a  vindication  of  yourself  on  a  case  of  ecclesi- 
astical discipline. 

Although  not  at  all  allowing  your  assertion  that  I  '•  based  my  authority." 
in  what  you  call  mv  "  rescrii^t,'"'  on  the  canon  which  I  cited,  I  might  freely 
admit  your   alleged  "principle  of  law"   a.s  regards  my  power  to  enforce 


380  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

obedience  to  it,  without  having  any  the  less  right  to  argue  with  you  against 
the  conduct  of  which  the  disregard  of  my  circular  might  be  the  only  feature 
open  to  judicial  investigation. 

Your  argument  that  you  did  not  refuse  to  pray  for  all  in  authority,  because 
"you  used  the  prayer  the  Church  appointed  for  that  very  isurpose,"  is  de- 
fective :  1.  Because  it  omits  to  observe  the  express  distinction  in  the  Divine  in- 
junction between  prayer  and  "  giving  of  thanks  " — a  distinction  not  neglected 
by  the  Church,  but  honoured  by  distinct  provisions;  2.  Because  it  proceeds 
on  the  assumption  that  my  prescription  of  a  form  was  uncanonical.  If  it 
was  canonical,  then  that  form,  and  none  other,  was  the  appointment  of  the 
Church. 

The  "  prayer  which  the  Church  appointed  for  the  very  purpose  "  of  fulfill- 
ing the  Scriptural  injunction  to  make  thanksgiving  in  behalf  of  those  in 
authority,  on  the  sjiecial  occasion  of  the  deliverance  which  had  been  vouch- 
safed, was  that  which  your  bishop  had  sent  you,  in  conformity  with  unbroken 
custom  of  the  Church  Catholic  throughout  all  ages.  There  was  none  other. 
Refusing  its  employment,  you  disobeyed,  so  far  as  in  you  lay  as  a  minister 
of  the  Church,  the  injunction  of  the  Scripture,  the  laniversal  and  immemorial 
usage  of  the  Church,  and  the  particular  enactment  by  which  our  branch  of 
the  Church  had  provided  the  mode  in  which  Scriptural  command  and  Cath- 
olic usage  should  take  effect  among  us. 

It  might  easily  be  that  some  irregialarity  of  procedure  on  the  part  of  his 
Tiishop,  or  some  technical  flaw  detected  in  a  canon  by  men  leai-ned  in  expe- 
dients, should  set  a  minister  free  from  the  punitive  stringency  of  the  pai-- 
ticular  enactment :  would  that  release  him  from  responsibility  f<jr  infi-inge- 
ment  of  venerable  use  and  neglect  of  Divine  injunction  ? 

He  might  be  able,  with  impunity,  to  defy  tlie  bishop's  authority,  and  de- 
Tide  his  judgment :  but  would  that  make  him  less  really  under  obligation 
before  God,  the  Church,  and  his  own  conscience,  to  recognize  the  Episcopal 
office  in  its  exercise  of  the  regulation  of  Divine  worship,  of  which  authority 
the  canon  itself  is  merely  the  Church's  recognition  and  enforcement  ? 

Y'^ou  still  leave  me  in  ignorance  concerning  your  authorities  learned  in  the 
•canon  law.  One  of  them,  you  say,  "  has  published  his  dissent  from  my  con- 
struction." It  has  been  my  misfortune  not  to  meet  with  his  publication,  of 
which  I  now  first  learn  the  existence. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Syle  seems  to  be  relied  cm  by  you  as  some  kind  of  prece- 
dent or  authority.  A  publication  made  as  I  suppose  by  Mr.  Syle,  or  by  the 
authorities  of  his  parish,  would  inform  you,  if  carefiilly  examined,  of  differ- 
ences between  his  case  and  yours  amply  sufficient  to  warrant  me  in  making 
the  difference  of  which  you  seem  to  complain,  if  the  difference  had  been  of 
my  siDontaneous  determination.  But  this  very  correspondence  is  evidence 
to  the  contrary  of  that.  I  would  as  gladly  have  ignored  your  case  as  I  did 
gladly  allow  him  the  benefit  of  relief  by  the  expiring  of  the  time  for  compli- 
ance with  my  circular  during  the  continuance  of  correspondence — for  while 
you  vouchsafed  no  notice  of  my  communication,  Mr.  Syle  immediately  laid 
his  difficulties,  such  as  they  were,  before  me. 

I  am  sorry  to  say  that  tlie  sentence  which  you  have  quoted  sCs  WTitten  by 
Mr.  Syle  gives  a  representation  of  his  correspondence  not  in  exact  con- 
sonance with  the  fact.  -'The  prayer,"  it  says,  "was  uncanonically  set 
forth,  &c.  I  wrote  to  the  bixhop  telling  him  of  tliis.  and  giving  him  the  op- 
portunity of  withdrawing  it."  However  great  the  obligation  under  which  I 
might  have  been  laid  by  such  information  and  conceded  opportunity,  a  ref- 
erence to  Mr.  Syle's  letter  of  March  17th.  as  printed  by  himself,  will  satisfy 
you  that  it  was  not  bestowed  on  me. 

After  the  time  for  using  the  prayer  had  expired,  as  the  fifth  of  several 
reasons  against  its  iise,  I  received  from  Mr.  Syle  the  statement,  "  others 
demur  to  the  singling  out  of  this  city  and  District  from  the  rest  of  the  dio- 
cese as  not  indicated  by  the  exigencies  of  the  case,  and  «.■«  of  doubtful  canon- 


APPENDIX.  381 

icity."  Those  four  words  constitnti'  tlif  whok'  extent  .>f  Mr.  SvIo'h  ex- 
pressed decision  that  the  jirayer  was  ••  iineanonically  set  fi.rtli."  Tbev 
reached  nie  on  the  24th  "  when."  as  I  informed  liis  vestrv  on  tlie  aotli.  "  tlii. 
time  for  usint,'  the  thanksgivin-,'  had  e.\i>ired,  ami  I.  tlierefore.  ilid  not  con- 
ceive it  to  be  ne^edt'ul  to  make  any  answer."  As  for  any  ••  opjuirHinitv  vfiven 
me  of  withdrawing  the  prayer  becan.se  wncanonical."  I  cannot  discover  on«' 
word  of  the  kind  in  either  of  Mr.  Syle's  letters.  He  asked  me.  after  u  Htnte. 
ment  oi  reasons  made  with  a  frankness  in  strange  contrast  with  the  reticence 
of  otliers.  ••whether  I  still  wished  the  praver  to  be  used  in  Trinitu 
Church?''  •  * 

This  was  the  extent  of  his  ri'fusal,  made  in  words.  While  lie  was  nntkin^ 
it  the  time  for  deeds  had  overpassed. 

I  must  leave  it  to  you  and  Mr.  Syle  to  reconcile  the  use  you  now  make  of 
him  with  the  facts  of  his  case  as  they  stand  on  record  in  the  printed  docu- 
ment. 

With  regard  to  your  reference  to  my  contidential  circular  to  the  clergy  of 
Maryland,  the  tone  of  your  reply  to  my  remarks  surprises  me  as  much  (i.s  it 
pains  me.  You  surely  know  why  I  considered  that  reference  irrelevant. 
You  are  no  stranger  to  the  total  dissimilarity  of  the  civil  jiosition  and  con- 
serpient  relative  duties  of  those  to  whom  that  circular  was  addressed  and  the 
Ijosition  and  duties  of  members  of  the  Church  in  the  District  of  Culumbiii. 
It  could  not  have  escaped  you  that  such  dissimilaritv  made  the  irrelevance 
of  your  reference,  which  was  an  attempt  to  prove  me  inconsistent  because  I 
deal  with  you,  who  have  no  government  on  earth  except  that  of  the  Tnifed 
States,  diti'erently  from  the  way  in  which,  under  a  contingent  emergency,  I 
proposed  to  deal  with  the  multitudes  in  Maryland  who  have  fallen  into  the 
snares  of  the  evil  one  and  been  seduced  into  sedition,  jirivy  conspirai-y,  an<l 
rebellion,  led  away  by  the  specioiis  sophistry  of  the  doctrine  of  States  rights, 
and  honestly  believe  that  tlaere  may  be  a  conflict  of  allegiances  when  bodies 
claiming  to  be  State  authorities  are  arrayed  in  opposition  to  the  Govenimeut 
of  the  United  States. 

Y'our  comments  on  the  confidential  relations  of  a  bishop  to  his  clergy  and 
on  my  vindication  of  them  I  leave  to  your  own  cooler  reflections  at  some 
future  day. 

Verv  faithfuUv,  vour  friend  and  brother, 

WILLIAM  KOLLINSON  WHITTINGHAM, 

liish'ip  of  Mfiri/liiitil. 

Baltimore,  September  Idth,  186'2. 


Bishop  Wliiffinc/ham  to  tJie  Standing  Committee  of  the  Diocexe  of  Mnri/Uiml. 

Reverend  and  Dear  Brethren  :  It  is  my  painful  duty  to  inform  you  tlnit. 
I  have  reason  to  l)elieve  that  there  are  grounds  for  an  investigation  into  the 
conduct  of  the  Reverend  William  Pinkney,  Doctor  in  Divinity,  Rector  of  the 
Parish  of  the  Ascension,  in  the  city  of  Washington  and  District  of  Colum- 
bia, and  to  lay  before  you  the  information  in  my  jiossession  upon  which  that 
belief  is  founded.  ItWill  appear  from  the  correspondence,  copies  nf  which 
I  send  herewith,  that  the  said  William  Pinkney,  D.  D.,  i)rcsbyter  of  this  dio- 
cese, has  disobeyed  the  fourteenth  section  of  the  first  canon  of  the  tirst  title 
of  the  digest  of  the  canons  for  the  government  of  the  Protestant  Eiiiscopal 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  and  thereby  subj«^cted  himself  to 
ecclesiastical  trial  and  censure  under  the  fifth  canon  of  ls47  of  this  diocese. 
On  the  fifteenth  day  of  March,  in  the  current  year  of  our  Lord,  I  set  forth, 
under  the  authority  of  the  canon  and  section  of  the  digest  alrea<ly  referred 
to,  a  form  of  thanksgiving,  of  which  I  send  herewith  a  copy.  A  copy  of 
this  I  transmitted  to  the  Reverend  Doctor  Pinkney.  to  lie  use.l  in  tlie  church 


382  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

of  which  he  is  rector.  It  will  appear  by  the  correspondence  herewith  sent 
that  he  did  not  use  the  form,  but  wilfully  disobeyed  the  canon  of  the  Gen- 
eral Convention  which  has  been  mentioned,  and  under  which  it  was  set  forth. 
It  will  be  for  you  to  consider  whether,  under  the  sixth  canon  of  IS^IT  of  this 
diocese,  it  is  proper  that  a  judicial  investigation  of  his  conduct  shall  take 
place. 

Very  respectfuUv,  vour  friend  and  brother, 

(Signed)     WILLIAM  KOLLINSON  WHITTINGHAM. 

Bishop  of  Maryland. 
Baltimore,  September  IPith,  1862. 


Biiihop  WhittingJiam  to  Reverend  William  Pinkney,  D.  D. 

Reverend  and  Dear  Sir  :  It  has  now  become  my  unpleasant  duty  to 
transmit  to  you  the  inclosed  copy  of  a  communication  to  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee of  the  Diocese  of  Maryland  made  by  me  this  day.  In  so  doing,  I  am 
reminded  by  the  recollection  of  some  passages  in  our  late  correspondence  to 
observe  that,  should  the  Standing  Committee  (as  the  action  of  that  body  in 
certain  cases  in  the  year  1861  has  given  me  reason  to  think  it  possibly  might) 
be  swayed,  by  reasons  of  expedience  or  otherwise,  to  decide  that  it  is  not 
proper  to  institute  a  judicial  investigation  of  your  case,  such  decision  is  not 
to  be  regarded  as  any  settlement  of  the  question  raised  by  you,  and  cannot 
be  so  accepted  by  me. 

I  shall  in  that  event  hold  myself  at  liberty  to  resort  to  any  other  available 
means  of  establishing  the  official  right  which  I  conceive  to  have  been  unduly 
set  aside. 

Very  respectfuUv,  vour  friend  and  brother, 

WILLIAM  EOLLINSON  WHITTINGHAM, 

Biiiliop  of  Maryland. 

Baltimore,  September  16,  1862. 


Bishop  Whittingham  to  Rex.  Dr.  Pinkney. 

Baltimore,  April  28,  1863. 
Eev.  Dr.  Pinkney,  Rector  of  Awensi on  Pariah,  Washington. 

Key.  and  Dear  Sib  :  In  regard  to  my  bodily  condition,  it  would  be  neither 
convenient  nor  safe  for  me  to  make  any  addition  to  the  confirmations  which 
I  have  undertaken  for  my  visit  to  Washington  next  week. 

I  shall  be  happy  to  confirm  any  candidates  you  may  think  fit  to  present, 
either  at  the  Church  of  the  Epiphany,  on  Wednesday  evening,  or  at  St.  John's 
Church,  on  Friday.  This,  as  on  former  occasions  in  similar  circumstances, 
would  meet  the  demand  on  behalf  of  your  parishioners  for  the  administra- 
tion of  the  ordinance,  and  suit  the  limited  convenience,  as  well  as  obviate 
other  difficulties  which  might  arise  on  the  part  of 
Your  faithful  friend  and  brother, 

WILLIAM  KOLLINSON  WHITTINGHAM, 

Bishop  of  Maryland. 

Bishop  WhittingJiam  to  Rev.  Br.  Pinkney. 

Baltimore,  May  9.  1863. 

Rev.  and  Dear  Sib  :  Y'our  note  of  the  6th  reached  my  hand  the  same 

evening,  but  I  had  not  opportunity  for  answer  before  leaving  Washington. 

I  am  sorry  that  you  did  not  think  it  best  to  present  your  candidates  at  the 

opportunity  oflfering  in  the  immediately  adjoining  parish.     On  more  accounts 


Al'l-KMUX.  HH.'J 

than  one  it  would  have  Ikhmi  a  rt'licf  to  nie  and  iin  art  of  kind  (■<iurtc>i«v  on 
your  i)art.  I  find  that  a  visitation  is  not  canonically  ihii'  to  AHc.MiHion  riirinli 
untd  Septt'inhcr  next.  Hcfoic  tlic  fixed  limit  ..f  iir.-vicius  notin.  i,f  u  vinii  at 
that  period,  I  shall  have  had  time  for  eonsidt-rution  whctlier  the  i-xintin^  nda- 
tions  of  the  rector  and  vestry  of  Ascension  Parish  witli  tlie  hi^hop  >•{  lh<- 
diocese  are  such  as  to  allow  of  my  makinj<  thiMlcsired  appointment  witli  d\i<- 
regard  to  the  recpiirements  of  my  office. 

I  am,  very  respectfully  and  truly,  your  friend  and  servant. 

\V.   1{.   WIiriTINCIl AM 
Rev.  William  Pinkney,  D.  D., 

Rector  of  Anc^'nm'on  Parixh,   \\'ii.sl,ii,iit,,ii . 


Dr.  Pinkiici/ to  Hisjiop   \V liittiin/lunu. 

May   I'nH.  \M\',\. 

Right  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir  :  I  acknowledj^e  the  receij)t  of  yours  of  tin-  '.ith 
instant,  and  would  rest  contented  with  a  simple  a<-knowled^ment  of  its  re- 
ceipt if  it  were  not  for  the  two  followini;  ])araj,'raplis.  .\fter  expressinv;  your 
regret  that  I  did  not  think  it  best  to  take  my  candidates  to  tlie  Kpiphany. 
you  go  on  to  say :  "  On  more  accounts  than  one  it  would  have  lieeii  a  relief 
to  me  and  an  act  of  kind  courtesy  on  your  i)art."  You  then  a<ld  :  "  I  shall 
have  had  time  for  consideration  whether  the  existing  relations  of  the  rector 
and  vestry  of  Ascension  Parish  with  the  bishop  of  the  diocese  are  such  as  to 
allow  of  my  making  the  desired  appointment,"  Ac,  A'c.  Hail  yon  forgotten 
that  in  the  very  letter  in  which  you  asked  me  to  take  my  candidates  to 
Epiphany  you  had  intimated  too  clearly  to  be  misunderstood  tlie  threat  con- 
tained in  your  letter  of  May  'Jth  ?  Could  you  have  ex))ected  me  to  ilisregard 
the  rights  of  my  parishioners  and  comjjromise  my  own  honor  as  a  presbyter 
in  the  desire  to  perform  an  act  of  kind  courtesy  to  you?  It  is  somewhat  re. 
markable  that  in  your  response  to  a  simple  and  respectable  retpiest  that  yon 
should  visit  my  parish,  at  your  own  convenience,  you  should  force  upcii  me 
the  possibility  of  your  refusal  to  come  in  I'ase  I  j)ersiste<l  tn  retpure  it,  and 
then  complain  of  me  for  not  doing  you  an  act  of  courtesy,  the  doing  "f 
which  would  have  V)een  a  tacit  acknowledgment  of  the  ))ropriety  of  the  in- 
timated possible  determination  on  your  ))art,  which  I  utterly  rei)udiate  and 
could  not  honestly  make.  Your  letter  placed  it  out  of  my  power  to  do  the 
kind  courtesy  to  w'liich  you  refer,  and  that  is  my  defence.  Courtesies,  how- 
ever pleasing,  cannot  be  extended  where  rights' are  invatled  or  tlireatened 
with  invasion.  "Rerte  ct  xnoritfr''  is  a  good  old  motto,  and  surely  it  were 
an  unreasonal)le  draft  upon  the  kind  courtesies  of  another  to  acci.mi>any  tin- 
request  of  a  favor  by  a  threatened  penalty.  Y'our  complaint,  therefore,  is 
altogether  unfounded,  and  the  keenness  of  the  rejn-oof  loses  its  edge  from 
the  fact  that  it  is  umerited. 

Your  allusion  to  the  existing  relations  of  the  rector  and  tlie  vestry  of  Ascen- 
sion Parish  with  the  bishop  of  the  diocese  is  not  more  fortunate.  I  shall 
not  concern  myself  at  this  time  with  the  vestry  :  they  are  abundantly  able 
to  defend  themselves.  But  permit  me  to  ask,  Vvhat  are  the  relations  of  the 
rector  with  the  bishoi).  and  who  is  responsible  for  them  ?  Arraigned  before 
the  Standing  Committee  for  a  violation  of  canon  law,  by  yourself,  on  proof 
alleged  to  lie  contained  in  our  correspondence  (a  i)art  of  which  only  was 
laid  before  the  committee),  after  I  had  been  assailed  befi>re  niy  vestry.  I 
was  uuanimotisly  acquitted  and  declared  to  be  witlnrnt  offence  in  the  matter 
charged.  Arraigned,  actpiitted— this  is  the  first  phase  in  the  altered  relationH 
that  unhappily  exist  between  us.  Not  satisfied  with  bringing  my  ease  be- 
fore  the  connn'ittee,  which  you  did  under  an  exi)ressly-citiMl  canon,  and  which 
clothes  them  with  the  power  of  deciding  whether  a  trial  before  the  ecclesi- 
astical court  shall  be  ordered,  you  adiiioniKhed  me  hfi-nhand.  that  I  was 
not  to  consider  their  decision,  if 'adverse  to  you,  a  final  settleuu'nt.  a.s  in  that 


384  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    PINKNEY. 

event  you  would  consider  yourself  at  liberty  to  resort  to  any  other  nvailable 
means — arraigned,  unanimously  acquitted,  yet  threatened  before  trial  with 
still  further  prosecution  in  a  given  contingency,  notwithstanding  my  ac- 
quittal, and  that,  too,  against  the  expressed  letter  and  spirit  of  the  canon 
under  which  you  proposed  to  act.  This  is  the  second  phase  of  the  altered 
relations  unhappily  existing  between  us.  A  second  time  the  case  was  vir- 
tually brought  before  the  committee,  and  a  second  time  iinanimously  dis- 
missed. 

If  the  accusation  of  a  bishop  which  falls  to  the  ground  by  the  unanimous 
judgment  of  the  body  to  whom  the  canon  refers  it  is  to  be  considered  a 
jiistifying  cause  for  the  withholding  the  rite  of  confirmation  from  the  sheep 
of  the  fold  or  the  intimation  of  the  possibility  of  it,  why  then  indeed  have 
we  fallen  upon  strange  times.  You  have  the  letter  of  the  law  to  justify  you 
in  postponing  the  visitation  at  your  pleasure  for  the  sjiace  of  three  years  ; 
bv;t  when  you  undertake  coolly  to  avail  yourself  of  the  allowed  largest  ex- 
tent of  time  to  justify  you  in  seeking  to  punish  a  parish  that  believes  itself 
to  be  without  offence,  I  hold  that  you  are  not  acting  in  the  spirit  of  the 
canon.  The  canon  was  passed  to  guard  the  rights  of  the  i^eople — to  pre- 
serve them  from  infringement.  The  course  pursued  by  the  rector  and  the 
vestry  is  no  new  thing  ;  mouths  have  been  given  you  already  for  consider- 
ation. 

How  far  the  determination  of  the  bishop  to  take  four  months  more  for 
the  making  up  of  his  mind  to  the  detriment  of  the  souls  of  a  few  faithful 
sheep,  in  withholding  from  them  the  strengthening  rite  of  coniirmation 
whicli  the  Apostle  places  among  the  fundamentals  of  the  faith,  the  Church 
mvist  decide.  I  enter  my  protest  against  it — not  against  the  postponement 
itself,  but  against  the  reason  assigned  for  it.  I  now  close  this  correspond- 
ence with  the  sincere  regret  that  it  was  necessary  to  write  thus  mi;ch. 
Yours  respectfully, 

W.  PINKNEY. 

Eight  Kev.  W.  R.  Whittingham, 

Bishop  of  Maryland. 

Binliop  Wliittingham  to  Dr.  Pinkney. 

Baltimore,  May  20th,  1863. 
Rev.  and  Deae  Sik  :  I  take  opportunity  in  transmitting  the  inclosed  paper 
for  the  Standing  Committee,  to  acknowledge  the  receipt,  on  the  18th,  of 
your  notice  of  the  approaching  meeting  of  the  committee :  and  yesterday, 
of  your  reply  to  my  note  of  the  'Jth  in  relation  to  your  wish  for  a  confirma- 
tion at  Ascension  Church,  and  am. 

Very  respectfully  voi;rs, 

W.  E.  WHITTINGHAM. 
Eev,  Wm.  Pixkney,  D.  D. 


Note. — The  long  and  serious  illness  of  the  author  while  this 
work  was  going  through  the  press  has  delayed  its  publication, 
and  will  account  for  some  errata  that  may  have  occurred  in  its 
tyj^ograj^hical  execution.  One  error  of  substance  may  be  cor- 
rected here.  In  the  note  to  page  84  the  names  of  the  IVIisses 
Burgess  should  be  given  as  follows :  Misses  Sarah,  Margaret, 
Anna,  and  Alice.  Miss  Kate,  erroneously  mentioned  as  a  sister, 
is  the  niece  of  these  ladies. 

O.  H. 


I  N  I)  K  X 


Academy,  Niival,  S. 

Addison",  Kev.  Thomas  G. ,  D.  D. ,  352. 

Addison's  Chapel,  33. 

Ahibama,  Episcopate  of,  103. 

Alexander,  Kev.  John  H.,  D.  D.,  17, 
57,  74,  7(1,  !)4,  133,  158,  3()(>. 

Andrews.  Kev.  Charles  D.,  letters 
from  Bishop  Pinkney,  358. 

Annapolis,  9,  11,  ct  xeq. 

Ai^ostolical  Succession,  Dr.  Pinkney 
on,  f)7,  et  xeq. 

''  A  Plain  Appeal,"  tract,  HO. 

Ascension,  Parish  of.  40 ;  Mr.  Pink- 
uey's  call  to,  80:  resignation  of, 
204. 

Ascension  Church,  Washington,  im- 
provements in,  88  ;  seizure  of,  by 
Government  forces,  109  ;  returned 
to  vestry,  123 ;  erection  of  new 
church,  245 :  funeral  solemnities 
of  Bishop  Pinkney,  347,  et  «cg. 

Atkinson,    Kight    Rev.    Bishop,    of 
North    Carolina,    consecration    of 
Dr.  Pinkney,  201 :  memorial  ser- 
mon to  Bishop  Whittingham,  2r>6 
memorial  to,  bv  Bishop  Pinknej 
308. 

Associations,  47,  et  seq. 

Avirett,  Kev.  James  B.,  r,2. 


Beltsville,  Church  at,  41. 
Binney,  Mr.  Horace.  120. 
Bishop,  Mr.  H.  C,  298. 
Blair,  Hon.  Montgomery,  253. 
Blenheim,  31,  et  seq.,  83,  84. 
Bowie,  Gov.  Robert,  G. 
Bladensburg,  31 ;   church  at,  39. 
Boston,  Pinkney's  visit  to,  63. 
Bray,  Dr.,  commissary  under  Bishop 

of  London,  10,  89. ' 
Bradford,  Mr.  John,  256. 
Brand,  Rev.  Dr.,  265. 
Brown,  Rev.  R.  Templeman,  229. 
Brown,  John,  Raid  of,  92 
Buck,  Rev.  James  A.,  253,  et  seq. 
Burgess,  The  Misses,  84. 
Burroughs,  Rev.  Dr.,  61. 
Butler,  Rev.  Dr.  Clement  M.,  ()7. 


Carter,  Mr.  ]5ernard,  291. 

Centennial  (commemoration  of  djo. 
cese,  322. 

Chapel  at  Naval  .Vcademy,  9. 

Chambers,  Judge,  IIC),  297. 

Christian,  Rev.  Wm.,  H7. 

Church  School  for  Girls  near  Wash- 
ington, 253,  et  seq.,  311. 

Clay,  Henry,  53. 

Cockeysville,  Bishop  Pinkney's  last 
visitation  to,  340,  et  seq. 

Committee  on  Canons,  Report  of,  ut 
Convention  of  1881.  293. 

Convention  of  Diocese,  meeting  in 
1880 and  1881,  291,  etseq.;  in  1884, 
memorial  minute  to  Bishop  Pink- 
ney, 349. 

Convention,  General,  meeting  at 
Richmond,  Va.,  1859,92;  change 
in  delegation  1862,  115:  meeting 
in  Boston,  285. 

Corcoran,  Mr.  W.  W.,  tirst  acquaint- 
ance with  Dr.  Pinkney,  150;  baj)- 

,.-''tismof,  15(> :  letters  from  Pinkney, 
■''  ICA,  etseq.,\m\:  gifts  for  erecti.".n 
of  the  new  church  of  the  "  .\scen- 
sion,"  248  ;  death  of  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  L(miseM.  Eustis,  152:  fonnd- 
ing  of  "  The  Louise  Home,"  155  : 
removalof  remains  of  J.  H.  Payne, 
337;  burial  of  Bishop  Pinkney. 
342,  etseq.;  erection  of  moininient 
and  memorial  window  to  Bishop 
Pinknev,  351,  353;  burial  of  Rev. 
Dr.  Lewin,  352. 

Corner-stone  of  Ascension  Chunh. 
Washington,  Laying  of.  245. 

Coxe,  Right  Rev.  C.,  276. 

Cummins,  Rev.  Dr.,  85. 

Dalrymple,  Rev.  Dr.,  313. 

Darlington,  Miss,  of  "St.  Marv'- 
Hall,"  Faribault,  222. 

Davis,  Rev.  Dr.  H.  Lyon.  11. 

Decker,  Rev.  John,  21. 

Dorcas  Association  of  Ascension 
Parish,  afterwards  called  •'  The 
Ladies'  Association,''  1K3. 

Duncanson,  Mr.  John  M.,  184. 


386 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP    PINKNEY. 


Earnest,  Kev.  J.,  -ll. 

Elliott,  Rev.  Johu  H.,  call  to  Asceu- 

siou  Church  as  Associate  Rector, 

244. 
Epiphauy  Parish,    Organization  of, 

75. 
Episcopal  Library,  267. 

Fell,  Dr.  Thomas,  15. 
French,  Rev.  J.  W..  D.  D.,  75. 

Goklsborough,  Rear-Aduiiral  Lonis 

M.,  280. 
Governor's  House,  8,  et  seq. 
Giesy,  Rev.  Dr.,  285. 
Gillis,  Rev.  L.  I.,  80. 
Grammer,  Rev.  Dr.  J.  E. ,  3()0,  et  aeq. 

Hannah  More  Academy,  336. 

Hall,  Rev.  Dr.  Chas.  H.,  38,  85. 

Harper's  Ferry,  54. 

Harvev,  in  "  Reminiscences  of  Web- 
ster,'" 70. 

Hambleton,  Hon.  Samuel,  36. 

Herbert,  Mr.  John  C,  32. 

Hobbs,  Mr.  Henrv,  55. 

Hodges,  Rev.  Dr.',  298. 

Holtzman,  Emma  O.,  131. 

Hopkins,  Right  Rev.  J.  H..  pastoral 
letter  in  1862,  117,  297. 

Humphreys,  Rev.  Dr.  H. ,  15. 

Huntington,  Hon.  Samuel  H.,  97; 
letters  from  Dr.  Pinknev,  108,  124, 
236,  286. 

Hutton,  Rev.  O.,  election  to  General 
Conventicm  in  1862,  116;  rector- 
ship of  Ascension  Chiirch,  Wash- 
ington, 243. 

Johns.  Right  Rev.  Bishop,  201. 
Jones, 'Gen.  Walter,  177. 
Judd,  Rev.  Mr.,  1. 
Judd,  Chancellors.  Corning,  LL.D., 
130. 

Kerfoot,  Right  Rev. ,  sermon  at  con- 
secration of  Dr.  Pinkney.  202  ; 
letter  to  Bishop  Pinkney,  303. 

Kipp,  Right  Rev.  Bishop,'70. 

Lay,  Right  Rev.  Bishop  H.  C.  cen- 
tennial commemoration,  322  ;  ad- 
dress at  funeral  of  Bishop  Pinkney, 
345. 

Leakin,  Rev.  George  A.,  321. 

Lee,  Right  Rev. ,  Bishop  of  Delaware, 
345. 

Leeds.  Kev.  Dr..  260,  320. 


Leonard,  Rev.  Dr. ,  338,  353. 

Lindsay,  Rev.  Dr.  J.  S.,  359. 

Lewin,  Rev.  Dr.  Meyer,  first  meeting 
with  Dr.  Pinkney  at  association, 
49,  50  ;  consecration  of  Dr.  Pink- 
ney, 200 :  fi'iendship  with  Dr. 
Pinkney.  216  ;  organization  of 
' '  School  for  Girls."  at  Rock'Creek, 
253  :  illness  of,  284  ;  Dean  of  con- 
vocation of  Washington,  336:  visit 
to  Cockeysville  with  Bishop  Pink- 
ney, 340  ;  death  of,  351 :  memorial 
to,' 353. 

Lowndes  family,  34. 

Lowndes,  Miss  Anne  Llovd,  death 
of,  65. 

Lowndes,  Miss  Elizabeth  Lloyd,  mar- 
riage with  Mr.  Pinknev,  34  :  death 
of,  258. 

Lowrie,  Rev.  Mr.,  184. 

Martin,  Mr.  Wm.  D.,  289. 
McDowell,  Rev.  Dr.  John.  14. 
McElhinev,  Rev.   Dr.  Geo.,  27,  28. 

44,  45.  ' 
Mcllvaine,  Bishop  of  Ohio,  Pastoral 

letter  of,  117. 
Meade,  Right  Rev.  Bishop,  302. 
Methodists,  19,  et  xeq..  73. 
McKenney,  Rev.  Dr.,  215,  300. 
Mission  for  Colored  People  in  Prince 

George's  Couutv.  72. 
Mortimer,  Rev.  Alfred  G. ,  300. 
Mt.  Calvarv  Church.  Baltimore.  289. 

298. 

Niagara,  Dr.  Pinkney's  visit  to,  70 : 

poem  on,  71. 
Nelson,  Rev.  Dr.  C.  K.,  312. 

O'Connor,  Mr.  Charles,  70,  316 

Packard.  Rev.  Dr.  J.,  313. 

"Paint  Chapel,  The,"  consecration 

of,  33  ;  abandoned,  42. 
Palmer,  Sir  Roundell,  on  parochial 

system,  85. 
Parish  Missions,  49. 
Payne,  John  Howard,  336. 
Parochial  system,  85. 
Peterkin,  Right  Rev. ,  Bish(  >p  of  West 

Virginia,  345. 
Perry,  Rev.  Galbraith  B.,  299. 
Pind'ell,  Rev.  A.  T.,  340,  et  xeq. 
Pinkney, Mr.  Niuian,  father  of  Bishop 

Pinknev,  official  life  of,  7:   death 

of,  16.  ■ 
Pinknev,    Mrs.    Anu-lia,    inolluT    of 


TM)i:.\. 


3H7 


Jiisliop  rinkiu'v,  characttT  and 
early  triiiuiui,'.  3,  d  xeq.;  h^ttm-s  to 
hcvsoii  Wiliiaiii.  T,,  ',),  21.  2:J :  iv- 
turii  to  the  ("luu<-li.  ")(■(  :  MS.  rt'iii- 
iniwcences,  7;i  ;  death,  KS  :  lettors 
to  her  sons,  !IC). 

Piukney,  Soiiierville,  death  of.  55. 

Pinkuev,  Dr.  Niiiiau,  brother  of 
Bishop  Piukney.  22 ;  death  of,  285. 

Piukney,  Williiiin.  Fifth  Hishop  of 
Maryland,  early  family  life,  1,  et 
nefj.;  education,  V,\ -.  death  of  his 
father,  Ki:  studies  in  the  law,  I'.l: 
couueetiou  with  the  Methodists, 
20 ;  preparation  for  the  Ministry 
at  Princeton,  21 ;  departure  from 
home,  22  ;  return  to  the  Chuicli, 

24  ;   interest  in  foreign  missions, 

25  ;  a  tutor  in  the  Steele  family, 
2(5 ;  studies  on  apostolical  ministry 
of  the  Church,  27;  ordained  dea- 
con, 28 ;  charge  of  Somerset  and 
Coventry  parishes,  28,  29  ;  offer  of 
TT.  S.  N.  chaplaincy,  30 :  parishes 
in  Prince  George's  County,  31,  32  ; 
marriage,  33 ;  Church  work  in 
Bladensburg  and  Beltsville,  37,  et 
M(j.;  call  to  Tallahassee,  Florida, 
4() ;  characteristics,  51 ;  call  to  St. 
Anne's  Parish,  57:  "  A  Plain  Ap- 
peal," tract,  fiO  ;  call  to  Rock  Creek 
Parish,  01 ;  devotion  to  sick  par- 
ishioner, and  memorial  of,  (>5,  (!(>  : 
answer  to  Dr.  Butler.  pami)hlet, 
(i7:  i)ublished  letter  to  Dr.  Jiutler 
"  The  Koad  to  Rome."  (i8  :  pub- 
lished life  of  his  uncle,  Wm.  Piuk- 
ney, 69;  "The  Reviewer  Re- 
viewed," letter  to  publisher,  70  ; 
letters  to  Dr.  Alexander,  74,  et 
xeq.;  delegate  to  General  Conven- 
tion in  185(),  75  ;  call  to  Epiphany 
(yhurch,  Washington,  75;  call  to 
Ascension  Church,  Washington, 
80  ;  letter  from  Bishop  Whitting- 
ham,  81 ;  per-soual  appearance,  8() : 
last  letters  from  his  mother,  90  ; 
corresponclence  with  Dr.  Alexan- 
der, 74,  76,  94 :  views  on  political 
troubles,  96 ;  letters  to  Judge 
Huntington,  108,  109  ;  official 
communic-ation  from  Bishop  Whit- 
tingham.  112  ;  General  Conven- 
tions of  18(!2  and  1865,  118,  etxeq.; 
Bishop  Wliittingham  declines  to 
visit  his  Church,  121  :  letters  to 
Judge  Huntington  in  1863,  124: 
poetiy,   127;   friendship  with   Mr. 


\V.  W.  Coreoruii.  150;  vinit  u> 
Europe,  161,, c  ^,1,;  work  in  As- 
cension Parish,  172;  eleetion  un 
Assistant  Bishop  of  Muryliind. 
194:  coMHecration,  2<l(( ;  reHJ^iiH 
Ascension  Purisli.  2til  ;  eorre. 
si)oudence  with  Bishop  \Vhittin^■ 
ham.  2{»8.  232  ;  work  a.s  AMHit.t)nil 
Bishoi),215:  niissionury  tour,  '220; 
letters  to  Judge  Huntiiigt«.n.  'I'Mt; 
burial  of  Confederate  dead.  23K  ; 
resumed  rectorsliip  of  A-xeiiHion 
Parish  with  Associate  Ke.|..r,  2-II : 
death  of  Mrs.  Piukney.  258;  let- 
ters to  Mr.  Corcoran,  2(!2:  ritinil- 
istic  movement,  275;  EpiHcopnl 
labors,  278;  missions.  2M2  :  illiii-sH. 
284:  collision  with  Bislio]i  .Meade, 
302:  lett.-r  from  Bishop  Kerfoof. 
3(t3  :  declines  to  ordain  .Mr.  Webb. 
304  ;  temperance  movement.  312  ; 
memorial  of  Dr.  I)alryini)le.  313; 
visit  to  Nantucket,  316;  last  visi- 
tation to  Cockeysville,  340  ;  death. 
342;  funeral,  344  :  memorial  win- 
dow, 353  :  review  of  cliaracter  and 
work,  355;  memorial  i)a|)er  from 
Dr.  J.  E.  Grammer,  361. 

'•  Piukney  Institute."  84,  336. 

Porter.  Rev.  A.  Toomer.  181. 

Portsmouth,  111. 

Pro'scott,  Rev.  Mr..  3()(». 

Princeton.  21. 

Purcell.  Rev.  Dr.,  342. 

Pyne,  Rev.  Dr.  Smith.  85. 

Rafferty.  Rev.  Dr.  Wm..  15. 
Randall  Hon.  Alex..  31-1. 
Richie,  Rev.  Dr.  Thos..  2'.t3.  29K. 
Richmond,  Va.,  meeting  of  General 

Convention,  92. 
Ritualistic  controversv.  27<l.  r(  sn/. 
Rock  Creek  Parish,  ca"ll  of  Dr.  I'iiik- 

ney  to,  61;   history  of.  I'.'if. 

Severn,  Fort,  7,  et  xiq. 

Sherwood  Parish  Church.  340. 

Silver  Spring  Parish.  12.  it  kii/. 

Simmons.  Josej>li.  12. 

Smalhv 1.  Rev.  Mr..  32. 

Smvthe.  Rev.  Herbert  B.,  289. 

Spa"rks,  Dr.  Edward.  22. 

Sjirague.  Rev.  Dr..  70  ;  letters  from, 
131. 

Stanley,  Rev.  Dr.  Miirvey.  72. 

Standing  Committee.  Meeting  of. 
April.  1862.  Hi5.  1(16:  action  in 
case  of  Dr.  Pinkii.v.  113-     '• - 


888 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP    PINKNEY. 


in,  115  ;  action  on  death  of  Bishop 
Wlnttingham,  266:  candidates  for 
holy  orders.  -289.  304.  306:  cen- 
tenary commemoration.  320:  action 
on  death  of  Bishop  Pinkney,  345. 

St.  Anne's  Church,  11, 19  ;  Dr!  Pink- 
uey's  call  to.  57. 

St.  Alban's  Parish,  D.  C.  87. 

State  House.  11. 

St.  Bartholomew's  Church,  49. 

St.  Clement's  Church,  Phila.,  300. 

Steele,  John  Nevett,  26. 

Stevens.  Eight  Rev.  Bishop,  300. 

St.  John's  College,  11,  et  seq. 

St.  John's  Church,  Washingt(m,  338. 
353. 

St.  Luke's  Church,  Baltimore,  300. 

St.  Mary's  Hall.  Faribault,  221. 

St.  Mark's  Church,  or  "The  Paint 
Chapel,"  33. 

St.  Matthew's  Church,  or  Addison's 
Chapel,  33. 

St.  Paul's  Church.  Eock  Creek 
Parish,  256. 

St.  Paul's  Church,  Baltimore,  me- 
morial service  to  Bishop  Whitting- 
ham,  266 ;   centennial  service,  326. 

St.  Peter's  Church,  Baltimore,  cen- 
tennial service,  328. 

Syle,  Eev.  Mr.,  107. 

Tallahassee,  Dr.  Piukney's  call  to,  46. 

Temperance  question,  312. 

Thanksgiving  sermon  in  1850,64:  in 
1N74.'247. ' 

"The  Incarnation  Parish."  Organi- 
zation of.  184. 

The  Ladies'  Association,  183. 

"  The  L(mise  Home."  155. 


■'  The   Reviewer    Eeviewed,"    \m])- 

lished  letter,  70. 
"  The    Eoad   to   Eome."    published 

letter  to  Dr.  Butler,  68. 
Tvler,    Mrs.   Adeline  Blanchard.   or 

■"Sister  Tyler,"  183. 

Van  Ness,  donation  of  property  to 
Ascension  Chiirch,  80. 

War,  1812,  5. 

War,  civil,  65. 

War  troubles,  93. 

Webb,  Mr.  W.  R.,  304. 

Webster,  Reminiscences  of,  70. 

Welling,  Dr.  J.  C,  143,  248,  286. 

Wilniei-,  Eev.  Dr.  E.  H,,  103. 

Wilberforce,  Bishop  of  Oxford,  165. 

Winslow,  Eev.  Gordon,  57. 

Winthrop,  Hon.  Eobert  C,  70. 

White  Sulphur  Springs,  226. 

Whittingham.  Eight  Eev.,  Bishop  of 
Maryland,  40 :  election  to  the 
Episcopate,  44 ;  special  forms  of 
prayer  issued,  105 :  commi;uica- 
tions  to  Dr.  Pinkney  and  the 
Standing  Committee,  111  ;  de- 
clines to  visit  Dr.  Pinkney's 
Church,  121  ;  failure  of  health. 
188  ;  correspondence  with  Bishop 
Pinkney,  208, 232  :  visit  to  Orange. 
New  Jersey,  to  reciiperate,  261  ; 
death.  265:  memorial  service  in 
Jialtimore,  266  :  gift  of  his  librarv 
to  the  Diocese,  266. 

Whipple,  Eight  Eev.  H.  B.,  Bishop 
of  Minnesota,  222 ;  memorial  to 
l^ishop  Pinkney.  348. 


a 


LITTLE  WHILE, 


A/ar  and  uigli. 
Repose  and  peaoe  ; 


And  dowy  eve ; 
Sweet  hnrbinger  o(  lio] 
The  soul's  reprieve, 


Oil !  sweet  imd  Lappy  tliougbl ! 

A  while  to  linger  liere. 

Oh  !  bliBs  complete  ! 

To  fast  nnd  prny  ; 

Mid  smiles  and  tours  to  bow 

A  little  while  to  sow 

At  Jesus' foet;     , 

Besidp  the  way  ; 

Tben  soar  OQ  vievless  wing 

While  t«nrs  my  spirit  feed 

"Mid  worlds  unjtnown." 

And  darkness  lowere, 

An,IeA7.^?nmptQik.n 

With  Lore  and  there  a  my 

Onr  Priest  and  King. 


To  this  poor,  helpless  soul. 

That  longs  In  eeo 
The  marvels  of  God's  graee 


^ 


WHILE. 

^ 

ile 

And  drink  the  limpid  stream 
That  flows  beside 

■  sea, 

The  New  Jerusalem, 

low. 

The  Lamb's  pure  Bride  ; 

been 

And  walk  the  golden  streets, 
'  And  ever  sing 

e  waste, 

Hosannas  to  the  Lord, 
Our  Priest  and  King. 

Glide  on  ye  languid  hours, 

e  ; 

Tako  swifter  wing  : 

time 

I  count  the  moments  o'er. 

ds  cease. 

A  weary  thing 

n 

To  this  poor,  helpless  soul. 
That  longs  to  see 

hope, 

The  marvels  of  God's  grace 

ve. 

Revealed  in  me. 

tr  may  fade, 

As  they  will  soon  appear 
The  other  side 

'store, 

Of  life's  deep  mysteries 
And  turbid  tide ; 

breathe  once  more 

When  every  deed  is  done, 

3re, 

And  sorrow  past ; 

lepths, 

I  stand  within  my  lot, 
Complete  at  last. 

py  thought ! 

A  while  to  linger  here, 

te! 

To  fast  and  pray  ; 

rs  to  bow 

A  little  while  to  sow 
Beside  the  way  ; 

?ss  wing 

While  tears  my  spirit  feed. 

known, " 

And  darkness  lowers. 

on 

With  here  and  there  a  ray 

hrone  ; 

To  kiss  the  flowers. 

A  little  while,  uud  then, 

The  palm  in  hand, 
The  river  in  its  flow. 

And  golden  strand, 
The  smile  of  God  within, 

The  sweet  repose, 
The  heart  from  sin  set  fre 

As  free  from  woes. 

Oh  !  sweet  and  happy  day 

I  wish  thee  near  ; 
"No  wrinkle  on  thy  brow. 

No  briny  tear  ; 
All  hail !  a  thrice  all  hail ! 

I  sigh  for  rest, 
I  long  to  lay  me  down 

Upon  His  breast. 

Who  died  that  we  might 

Forever  more. 
And  sweep  a  golden  harp 

On  Beulah's  shore. 
He  still  in  pity  waits. 

Locks  wet  with  dew 
Each  spot  of  sin  to  cleans 

Each  soul  renew. 

I  do  not  dare  repine 

At  His  decree. 
Who  has  ordained  that  I 

Should  roam  a  sea 
So  swept  by  angry  storms 

And  tossed  at  will ; 
For  I  can  see  the  bow 

Bent  o'er  it  still. 


Oh !  sn-eet  and  happy  day  1 

I  wish  thee  near  ; 
"No  wrinkle  on  thy  brow," 


Who  died  tbot  we  might  live 


\Who  has  ordained  that  I 

Should  roam  a  sea 
So  swept  by  angry  fttonu 


Before  the  time ; 
I  only  afik  that  I 

May  hi-ar  the  chime 
Of  bells  within  tho  heart. 


Like  that  above. 


r 


^ 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 

This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


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5995   Life  of  the 
P65K2 ri.b-h  r 


verend 


William 


